Ankle Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique Versus Foot Core Exercise in Patients With Plantar Fascitis

NCT ID: NCT07037290

Last Updated: 2025-06-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 50 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-04
• Study Completion Date: 2025-09-30

Brief Summary

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain due to overuse or repetitive stress on the plantar fascia. Risk factors include abnormal foot structure, obesity, and poor footwear. Physiotherapy interventions like foot core exercises and ankle proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) are gaining attention for improving pain and foot function.

Detailed Description

To compare the effects of ankle PNF and foot core exercises on pain, foot posture, and function in patients with plantar fasciitis.

A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with 50 participants, divided into two groups. Group A will receive ankle PNF and Group B will receive foot core exercises, both alongside conventional physiotherapy.

Conditions

Plantar Fascitis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Ankle proprioceptive neuromuscualar facilitation technique

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Ankle proprioceptive neuromuscualar facilitation technique

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a therapeutic technique that uses sensory input to enhance muscle function and improve flexibility. For the ankle, PNF techniques can be used to increase range of motion, improve balance and stability, and reduce pain associated with ankle injuries.

Foot core exercises along with conventional physiotherapy

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Foot core exercises along with conventional physiotherapy

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

This Group will be given foot core exercises which includes heel raise, toe curls, foot doming, toe spreading, balancing board, and tennis ball roll under foot along with conventional therapy which includes ultrasound, plantar fascia stretching and Achilles stretching.

Interventions

Ankle proprioceptive neuromuscualar facilitation technique

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a therapeutic technique that uses sensory input to enhance muscle function and improve flexibility. For the ankle, PNF techniques can be used to increase range of motion, improve balance and stability, and reduce pain associated with ankle injuries.

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Foot core exercises along with conventional physiotherapy

This Group will be given foot core exercises which includes heel raise, toe curls, foot doming, toe spreading, balancing board, and tennis ball roll under foot along with conventional therapy which includes ultrasound, plantar fascia stretching and Achilles stretching.

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants between 30 to 50 years of age
• Plantar fasciitis diagnosed case.
• Both males and females.
• Unilateral or bilateral involvement with acute or chronic plantar fasciitis.
• Positive windlass test.
• Patient with previous plantar fascia pain from the past 3 months.
• Patient who reported medial plantar calcaneal discomfort in initial steps after waking up.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with recent history of using steroid injections or anti-inflammatory medicine use.
• Patient with any Peripheral vascular diseases
• Patients with History of fractures or gait or postural foot abnormality.
• Patients with Skin infections and wounds on the foot
• Patients with any neurological deficit involving foot
• Patients with a history of foot or ankle surgery.

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

Sponsors

Superior University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Muhammad Naveed Babur

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Prime Care Clinic & Nazar labana, sharaqpur Sheikhupura road, near motorway interchange, Sharaqpur Sharif

Lahore, , Pakistan

Countries

Pakistan

Other Identifiers

DPT/Batch-Fall20/1010

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id