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The Additive Effect of Exercise in Addition to Corticosteroid Injection in Plantar Fasciitis

The Additive Effect of Exercise in Addition to Corticosteroid Injection for Pain and Functional Performance in Plantar Fasciitis: A Single-Center Randomized Clinical Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06917937
Enrollment
40
Registered
2025-04-09
Start date
2018-09-16
Completion date
2019-05-05
Last updated
2026-03-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Plantar Fascitis

Keywords

Foot, Foot Disease, Plantar Fasciitis, Exercise, Steroid

Brief summary

Plantar fasciitis (PF) involves the degeneration of the medial calcaneal tuberosity and nearby perifascial tissues in the heel. It is the leading cause of heel pain, typically resulting from repetitive strain on the plantar fascia, causing structural damage. Key risk factors for PF include an increased body mass index in active individuals and a greater range of plantar flexion motion. Treatment options for PF vary, and there is no clear consensus on the most effective approach. Conservative treatments may include rest, stretching exercises for the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon, strengthening exercises for foot intrinsic muscles, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), orthotics, heel pads, dorsiflexion night splints, and corticosteroid injections. These treatments may be used individually or in combination. Corticosteroid injections are the most frequently used invasive treatment. However, there has been limited research examining the effects of corticosteroid injections combined with exercises targeting intrinsic foot muscle strength on functionality and walking distance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of an exercise program added to corticosteroid injections on pain relief and functional performance in individuals with PF.

Interventions

OTHERExercise Program

Our exercise program in our study; (i) foot intrinsic muscle strengthening exercise (with a load of 3 kg), (ii) plantar fascia stretching with finger extension, (iii) standing gastrocnemius muscle stretching, (iv) sitting achilles tendon stretching, (v) plantar fascia and gastrocnemius stretch on the step, (vi) cold massage exercise in the arch of the foot. We stated that the group to which exercise was added should do the exercises regularly for 6 weeks, in the specified number and time.

OTHERCorticosteroid injection

The orthopedic physician administered the corticosteroid injection as a mixture of 1 ml of arthropane (5 mg of triamcinolone hexacetonide) and 4 ml of citanest. Before the application, the physician cleaned the area to be treated with 10% povidone iodine. He made a single dose injection by entering the painful point determined by palpation around the calcaneal spur and plantar fascia from the percutaneous foot-heel lateral. The patients were in the prone position with the ankle in a neutral position. After the application, he covered the area with a sterile cloth and said to remove it after 3 hours. He stated that patients could apply ice to the injected area if necessary for pain control, and advised patients to avoid all jogging and other high-impact activities on the day of injection. No additional treatments, including NSAIDs, orthoses, and night splints, were allowed during the study period.

Sponsors

Kutahya Health Sciences University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

A prospective single-center study

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Those over the age of 18 * Those who have pain in the plantar region for 1 month and this pain is 5 or more according to VAS, * Those who describe pain on the first step of the morning, * Those with plantar fascia tenderness on palpation, * Patients who will be in harmony with the physician and physiotherapist in exercise and follow-up throughout the entire study period.

Exclusion criteria

* Cases with fracture, entrapment neuropathy and rupture, * Those with neurological and systemic diseases, * Those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 40, * Conditions with a local contraindication to corticosteroid, * Participants who have situations that may prevent their safety, execution or interpretation of the results during the continuation of the training and applied of the test protocol.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Muscle Shortness Testsa day before the rehabilitationPlantar and Dorsi Flexion Flexibility, Gastrocnemius Shortness, Hamstring Shortness, Hip Flexor Shortness, Tensor Fascia Lata Shortness shortness tests were performed.
American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Hindfoot Clinical Evaluation System (AOFAS- hindfoot)a day before the rehabilitationThe AOFAS hindfoot clinical assessment system evaluates the ankle, subtalar, talonavicular, and calcaneocuboid joints. The scoring system allocates 50 points for function, 40 points for pain, and 10 points for alignment. A higher score indicates a better condition for the patient.
American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Midfoot Clinical Evaluation System (AOFAS- midfoot)a day before the rehabilitationThis scale allocates 45 points for function, 40 points for pain, and 15 points for alignment. Higher scores indicate that the patient's condition is favorable.
Foot Function Indexa day before the rehabilitationIt is a 23-item questionnaire designed to assess how foot pathology affects pain, disability, and activity limitations. The FFI score was calculated based on 5 questions related to pain (with a maximum of 50 points). Each question was scored on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no pain and 10 indicates unbearable pain. In our study, we utilized the Turkish version of the FFI questionnaire.
6-minute walk testa day before the rehabilitationThe 6MWT is a simple, safe, and well-tolerated test that effectively reflects daily life activities. In our study, the 6MWT was conducted in a 30-meter long, flat, enclosed corridor. We measured the patient's heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure before the test, immediately after completion, and again 5 minutes later. Fatigue levels were evaluated using the Borg Scale, and the distance walked by the patient was recorded in meters.
50 meters walking testa day before the rehabilitationThe test evaluates walking ability, and patients were instructed to walk at their own comfortable pace for a distance of 50 meters. The stopwatch was started with the command to begin at the starting point. Upon reaching the 50-meter mark, we stopped the stopwatch and recorded the time.
Visual Analogue Scalea day before the rehabilitationPatients were asked to indicate their current pain level on a visual analog scale, which consisted of a 10 cm line. The distance was then measured using a ruler and recorded. A lower score indicates decreased pain.

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 11, 2026