A reduction of intrinsic foot muscle sizes has been identified in patients with chronic
      plantar fasciitis. Weaker intrinsic foot muscles has been suggested to decrease the medial
      longitudinal arch height and subsequently increase extra tensile stress in the plantar
      fascia, resulting in the chronicity of the condition. Therefore, it is speculated that
      atrophic intrinsic foot muscles may be a significant risk factor of developing chronic
      plantar fasciitis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of an 8-week
      targeted intrinsic foot muscles exercise regimen on the intrinsic foot muscle size,
      symptomatic relief, and foot function improvement in long-distance runners with chronic
      plantar fasciitis.

The Therapeutic Effect of Targeted Intrinsic Foot Muscles Exercises in Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis, Chronic

Pain

Distance runners are defined as running with more than 20km per week for more than 2 years.
      All recruited participants have > 1 year of plantar fasciitis. The diagnosis were made based
      on clinical symptoms and the thickness of plantar fasciitis > 4.0mm at the medial tubercle of
      heel by ultrasound imaging.

      Arm 1: The purpose of this arm of the study is to determine if a 8-week targeted foot muscle
      exercise regimen, instructed with real-time ultrasound, affect the intrinsic foot muscle
      size, symptomatic relief, and foot function improvement of distance runners with plantar
      fasciitis. 32 participants will be recruited in this arm.

      Arm 2: This group will not engage in any training, but will serve as a comparator for the
      intervention arm.

targeted intrinsic foot muscle exercises

measuring 100 mm in length marked from 0 (absence of pain) to 100 mm (worst imaginable pain)

Higher scores represent higher levels of function, with 100% representing no dysfunction.

Pronated postures are given a positive value, the higher the value the more pronated.
Supinated features are given a negative value, the more negative the value the more supinated.
For a neutral foot the final score should lie somewhere around zero

Supinated foot (<5mm); Neutral foot (5-9mm); pronated foot (>9mm)

Principal Investigator

three 10-seconds eyes opened trials and three 10-seconds eyes closed trials with single-leg stance

4 targeted intrinsic foot exercise will be performed at least 5 times per week, once in the laboratory, and four times at home. The participants will be followed up weekly at the laboratory visit. The real-time ultrasound imaging of intrinsic foot muscles will be used as guided visual biofeedback to instruct all participants to execute all exercise movement in a correct manner. If the participant misses a session, he/she is expected to replace the lost session within the same week.

The Therapeutic Effect of Targeted Intrinsic Foot Muscles Exercises in Plantar Fasciitis

About this trial

Study ID

Status

Type

Phase

Placebo

Accepting

Trial Timing

What is this trial about?

What are the participation requirements?

Locations

Location

Status