Gastrocnemius Stretching on Plantar Heel Pain, Foot Mobility and Function in Patients With Plantar Fasciitis

NCT ID: NCT05920551

Last Updated: 2023-06-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-07-01
• Study Completion Date: 2024-02-01

Brief Summary

The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of gastrocnemius stretching exercises on plantar heel pain intensity, foot mobility, and function in patients with plantar fasciitis.

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial will include patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a study group performing gastrocnemius stretches or a control group. Both groups will receive ultrasound therapy and fascia strengthening exercises. The study group will additionally perform specific gastrocnemius stretching exercises. Outcome measures will be assessed before and after 4 weeks of intervention and will include pain intensity, foot mobility using an inversion/eversion device, and function using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure. The study hypothesizes that the study group will demonstrate greater improvements in pain, foot mobility, and function compared to the control group. The study findings could guide physical therapy interventions for patients with plantar fasciitis.

Conditions

Plantar Fascitis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Gastrocnemius Stretching Group

Patients will receive ultrasound therapy, fascia strengthening exercises, and gastrocnemius stretching exercises.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Gastrocnemius Stretching Exercises

Intervention Type: OTHER

The gastrocnemius stretching exercises will be performed by patients in the study group. These exercises will involve stretching the gastrocnemius muscle in a controlled manner to improve flexibility and reduce tension in the plantar fascia.

Standard care

Intervention Type: OTHER

Ultrasound therapy: A therapeutic ultrasound device will be used to apply ultrasound waves to the plantar fascia area for pain relief and to promote healing. The frequency, intensity, and duration of the ultrasound therapy will be determined by the treating physical therapist based on individual patient needs.Fascia strengthening exercises: Patients will be instructed to perform exercises targeting the intrinsic foot muscles and the plantar fascia to improve strength and function. Examples of these exercises include toe curls, towel scrunches, and arch lifts. Patients will be asked to perform these exercises daily, with the specific number of repetitions and sets determined by the physical therapist.

Control Group

Patients will receive ultrasound therapy and fascia strengthening exercises without gastrocnemius stretching exercises.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard care

Intervention Type: OTHER

Ultrasound therapy: A therapeutic ultrasound device will be used to apply ultrasound waves to the plantar fascia area for pain relief and to promote healing. The frequency, intensity, and duration of the ultrasound therapy will be determined by the treating physical therapist based on individual patient needs.Fascia strengthening exercises: Patients will be instructed to perform exercises targeting the intrinsic foot muscles and the plantar fascia to improve strength and function. Examples of these exercises include toe curls, towel scrunches, and arch lifts. Patients will be asked to perform these exercises daily, with the specific number of repetitions and sets determined by the physical therapist.

Interventions

Gastrocnemius Stretching Exercises

The gastrocnemius stretching exercises will be performed by patients in the study group. These exercises will involve stretching the gastrocnemius muscle in a controlled manner to improve flexibility and reduce tension in the plantar fascia.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Standard care

Ultrasound therapy: A therapeutic ultrasound device will be used to apply ultrasound waves to the plantar fascia area for pain relief and to promote healing. The frequency, intensity, and duration of the ultrasound therapy will be determined by the treating physical therapist based on individual patient needs.Fascia strengthening exercises: Patients will be instructed to perform exercises targeting the intrinsic foot muscles and the plantar fascia to improve strength and function. Examples of these exercises include toe curls, towel scrunches, and arch lifts. Patients will be asked to perform these exercises daily, with the specific number of repetitions and sets determined by the physical therapist.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Pain reproduced with palpation of the plantar fascia

2. localized and sharp but not radiating

3. worse in the initial step after and an extended period of rest

4. decreased initially after the first steps but exacerbated with increased activityat least 6 weeks

5. unresponsive conservative form of plantar fasciitis care (ie, rest, stretching, full-length silicone insole, prescription NSAIDs when taken for a period of 2 weeks)

Exclusion Criteria

1. history of previous steroid injections

2. previous surgery of the foot, lumbar spine disc herniation or back injury

3. patients with rheumatic diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, gout disease, enthesopathy, Sjogren's syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Ahram Canadian University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Mohamed Magdy ElMeligie

Lecturer of Physical Therapy and Director of Electromyography Lab

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Amal Fawzy, Ph.d

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Faculty of Physical Therapy, Ahram Canadian University

Locations

Outpatient clinic of faculty of physical therapy, Ahram Canadian University

Al Ḩayy Ath Thāmin, Giza Governorate, Egypt

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Egypt

Central Contacts

Mohamed M ElMeligie, Ph.d

Role: CONTACT

mohamed.elmeligie@acu.edu.eg

+201064442032

Facility Contacts

Mohamed M ElMeligie, Ph.d

Role: primary

mohamed.elmeligie@acu.edu.eg

01064442032

Other Identifiers

012/7080002023

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id