The purpose of this research is to compare patient outcomes following treatment of plantar fasciitis with conventional physical therapy (stretching, strengthening, ultrasound, manual therapy, and cryotherapy) and conventional physical therapy plus dry needling. Physical therapists commonly use conventional physical therapy techniques and dry needling to treat plantar fasciitis, and this study is attempting to find out if the addition of dry needling to conventional physical therapy is more effective than conventional physical therapy alone.
Patients with plantar fasciitis will be randomly assigned to receive 1-2 treatments per week for 4 weeks of either: (1) Dry Needling and conventional physical therapy, or the (2) Conventional physical therapy (stretching, strengthening, ultrasound, manual therapy, and cryotherapy)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
108
Dry needling to the foot and lower leg. Up to 8 sessions over 4 weeks. Also conventional PT including: ultrasound, stretching, strengthening, cryotherapy and manual therapy to the foot and lower leg.
Conventional physical therapy includes ultrasound, strengthening, cryotherapy, and manual therapy up to 8 sessions over 4 weeks.
Alabama Physical Therapy & Acupuncture
Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Change in Lower Extremity Functional Scale
20 questions each worth 0-4 points with maximum score of 80 points possible. Do not convert to a 20 questions, each worth 0-4 points with maximum score of 80 points possible
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months
Change in First Step Pain in the Morning (NPRS)
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months
Change in Activity Pain (NPRS)
Average pain level during standing and walking.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months
Change in Pain Intensity (NPRS)
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months
Change in Foot Functional Index Pain
5 questions each worth 0-10 points with maximum score of 50 points possible.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months
Change in Foot Functional Index Disability
9 questions each worth 0-10 points with maximum score of 90 points possible
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months
Change in Foot Functional Index Activity Limitation
3 questions each worth 0-10 points with maximum score of 30 points possible
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months
Change in Foot Functional Index Total
3 questions each worth 0-10 points with maximum score of 30 points possible
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months
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Change in Global Rating of Change Score
Time frame: 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months
Change in Medicine Intake (Frequency of pain medication)
Frequency of pain medication, including over-the-counter or narcotics for plantar fasciitis
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months