The investigators will compare Achilles tendon stretching with a new product called a ThermaWedge™ device, a foam wedge designed to help with certain foot stretches and exercises, in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciopathy. There will be 2 groups each of 25 - 30 participants who have chronic plantar fasciopathy, which is a common cause of foot pain. Exercises will be done for 6 weeks and then each group will do the other exercise protocol for another 6 weeks. Participants will fill out the Foot and Ankle Disability Index scale and numerical analog pain scale and the Global Rating of Change Scale prior to any treatment, weekly during treatment and post treatment. The investigators' hypothesis is that use of the ThermaWedge™ device will result in decreased pain and disability when compared to achilles tendon stretching.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
ThermaWedge TM is a foam wedge device that is designed to be used in the treatment of plantar fasciopathy.
Participants will be asked to perform achilles tendon stretching exercises which will be demonstrated at the initial orientation.
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Global Rating of Change Scale - assessing change in pain and function
This is a rating scale which allows participants to indicate the degree of change in pain/function that the participant has experienced since the start of the intervention
Time frame: The participants will use the scale on day 1 of the study, at weeks 1, 2 ,3 ,4 ,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, as well as 6 and 12 weeks after the completion of the intervention
Foot and Ankle Disability Index - assessing change in disability
This is a questionnaire that assesses the amount of pain and the level of functioning that patient is currently experiencing with respect to the foot and ankle.
Time frame: The participants will use the scale on day 1 of the study, at weeks 1, 2 ,3 ,4 ,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, as well as 6 and 12 weeks after the completion of the intervention
Numerical Rating Scale - assessing change in severity of pain
This is a rating scale on which patients will rate the severity of the worst pain they have experienced in the last week from 0-10.
Time frame: The participants will use the scale on day 1 of the study, at weeks 1, 2 ,3 ,4 ,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, as well as 6 and 12 weeks after the completion of the intervention
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