Plantar Fasciitis, Plantar Fasciopathy
Conditions
Keywords
ThermaWedge TM, stretches
Brief summary
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.
Interventions
DEVICEThermaWedge TM
ThermaWedge TM is a foam wedge device that is designed to be used in the treatment of plantar fasciopathy.
OTHERAchilles Tendon Stretching
Participants will be asked to perform achilles tendon stretching exercises which will be demonstrated at the initial orientation.
Sponsors
University of British Columbia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* diagnosis of plantar fasciopathy which has persisted (chronic) for at least 12 months. * participants need to be able to understand simple instructions about the stretches which will likely include both verbal instructions and pictures and participants need to be able to do all the necessary exercises. * Participants must have current British Columbia (BC) Medical Service Plan (MSP) health coverage so that if they become injured, they are covered medically. * Participants must be able to fill out surveys online. * Participants must also pass a clinical screen where a senior medical student or a physiotherapist, Scott Fraser, will assess the patient for for plantar fasciopathy/fasciitis.
Exclusion criteria
* Previous ankle or foot trauma or surgery * duration of pain of less than 12 months, * those receiving adjuvant treatment such as injections during the time of the study, * those who are unable to do the necessary exercises required in the study * Those who do not have current BC MSP health insurance coverage.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Global Rating of Change Scale - assessing change in pain and function | 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 | 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 |
| Foot and Ankle Disability Index - assessing change in disability | 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 | 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. |
| Numerical Rating Scale - assessing change in severity of pain | 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 | 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. |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed