Plantar Fasciitis

Researchers are evaluating the effects of Kinesio taping combined with traditional physical therapy compared to physical therapy alone in adults aged 20 to 40 years diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess pain levels, ankle range of motion, and gait parameters such as cadence, cycle time, gait speed, and stride length to better understand the benefits of adding Kinesio taping to standard treatment. Participants are divided into two groups: one receiving traditional physical therapy consisting of TENS plus cold packs applied for 10 minutes on the plantar aspect of the foot and stretching exercises done twice daily, and the other receiving the same physical therapy plus Kinesio taping treatment. Both groups undergo 30-minute therapy sessions three times a week for two consecutive weeks, totaling six sessions. Kinesio taping involves applying straps with specific tension to the foot to provide support. Throughout the study, pain intensity will be measured using a Numeric Pain Rating Scale, range of motion at the ankle joint will be assessed with goniometry, and gait will be evaluated through a 30-meter walk test. Baseline and post-intervention measurements will be taken. Participants provide informed consent and are monitored for changes over the two-week treatment period, with the trial concluding on January 30, 2025.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and performance of MagnetOs Putty and MagnetOs Easypack Putty, compared to autogenous bone graft, in patients undergoing hindfoot or ankle fusion surgeries. This phase IV post-marketing study focuses on treating hindfoot and ankle disorders, where synthetic bone graft extenders like MagnetOs products are routinely used by surgeons. The trial aims to assess bone fusion and functional outcomes in patients receiving these treatments. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either MagnetOs Putty/Easypack Putty or a local autograft harvested from the calcaneus, distal tibia, or proximal tibia. Both treatments will be used with rigid hardware fixation during fusion surgeries such as ankle fusion, subtalar fusion, calcaneocuboid fusion, talonavicular fusion, or double fusion involving any two of these joints. The volume of MagnetOs or autograft used varies by joint, typically 1-5 cc for certain joints and up to 10 cc for the tibiotalar joint. Participants will be followed after surgery with visits at discharge and weeks 2, 6, 12, 24, and 52. Imaging evaluations, including radiographs and CT scans, will be performed at multiple time points to assess bone fusion and healing. The main outcome will be bone fusion measured by CT scan at 24 weeks post-operation. Additional assessments will include functional evaluations and further imaging up to one year post-surgery. Weight-bearing radiographs will begin at week 12, and safety monitoring will continue throughout the study period.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of adding dry needling to conventional physical therapy compared to conventional physical therapy alone on walking and pain in adults with plantar fasciitis. The study focuses on changes in pain, ankle range of motion, walking speed, stride, and daily activities in adults aged 40 to 60 years suffering from plantar heel pain lasting more than three months. This randomized controlled trial aims to provide insight into how these treatments influence gait and function. Participants receive either standard care including ultrasound, stretching, and strengthening exercises combined with sham dry needling, or the same standard care combined with real dry needling. Both groups undergo six treatment sessions over three weeks, twice per week. The dry needling targets specific foot and calf muscles with sterile needles applied for 5 minutes each session, while the sham group receives similar procedures without the active needle stimulation. During the study, participants will be assessed before and after treatment using pain rating scales, goniometer measurements for ankle motion, a 30-meter walk test, and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM). Researchers will monitor pain intensity, gait speed, cadence, cycle length, stride length, and range of motion over three weeks. Consent will be obtained before participation, and data collection includes pre- and post-intervention scores to evaluate treatment effects.

Researchers are evaluating surgical treatment called arthrorisis of the subastragalus joint using a polymeric implant to address flexible flatfoot in children aged 8 to 14 years. This condition involves joint deformity causing flat feet, and the study aims to analyze clinical and radiographic outcomes over time during growth. The trial is a prospective observational study involving 55 patients to better understand the treatment's effects. The surgical procedure uses a polymeric endorthesis designed to restore proper alignment between the astragalus and calcaneus bones and maintain this correction over time. The goal is to allow natural bone remodeling along growth lines, usually within a few years. This study tracks patients undergoing this specific surgery without comparing other treatments. Participants will be monitored regularly with measurements of Meary's angle at baseline and multiple follow-up points up to 72 months after surgery. Additionally, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores will be assessed at the same intervals. These evaluations help assess the joint alignment and foot function over time. The study will continue collecting data and monitoring outcomes until 2028.

Researchers are evaluating if a barefoot walking program can help treat plantar fasciopathy, a condition causing heel pain, in adults aged 18 to 70 years. The study aims to find out whether barefoot walking reduces heel pain more effectively than a standard stretching and strengthening routine, and if it improves foot function and quality of life. This pragmatic randomized controlled trial compares these two conservative management approaches to better understand their effects on plantar fasciopathy. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will follow a 12-week home-based barefoot walking program on grass, gradually increasing walking duration and frequency, along with education on plantar fasciopathy and load management. The other group will complete a 12-week home-based stretching and strengthening program focused on the plantar fascia, calf, foot, and lower limb muscles, also with education provided. Both groups will track adherence and symptoms weekly using short questionnaires. During the study, participants will complete weekly questionnaires over the 12-week exercise period and three follow-up surveys up to six months after finishing the intervention. Researchers will measure first-step pain, foot function, adherence, cost-effectiveness, and any adverse events throughout the intervention and follow-up. Education on load management will be provided to all participants. The total involvement spans from baseline through 12 weeks of intervention and six months of follow-up to assess outcomes comprehensively.

Researchers are studying how different surgical treatments for foot and ankle problems affect plantar pressures as a measure of functional and biomechanical recovery. While many surgical outcome assessments focus on pain, function, deformity correction, and X-rays, this study is the first to specifically evaluate plantar pressures after surgery. Biomechanical evaluations also include tests like gait analysis, balance measurements, joint movement tracking, and muscle activity assessments. Participants will undergo biomechanical functional assessments using specialized equipment such as a baropodometric platform and inertial sensors. These tests analyze gait, stabilometry, joint kinematics and kinetics, and muscle strength. The study follows patients who have had foot or ankle surgery and includes a 6-month follow-up period to observe changes in plantar pressure and other functional outcomes. During the study, researchers will measure pain levels using the Visual Analogue Scale at the start and after 6 months. The study requires participants to attend follow-up visits at the institute. The main goal is to understand how plantar pressures change over time after surgery, providing insight into functional recovery. Patients with severe postural instability or cognitive deficits are excluded to ensure accurate assessments.

Researchers are evaluating two different injections for treating chronic plantar fasciitis, a common cause of heel pain that persists despite usual treatments like physical therapy or steroid injections. This trial compares autologous bone marrow aspirate and platelet-rich fibrin injections to see their effects on pain and foot function, using ultrasound guidance to ensure accurate delivery. The study is randomized, double-blind, and focuses on both clinical outcomes and imaging changes in the plantar fascia. Participants receive a single ultrasound-guided injection of either bone marrow aspirate, taken from the back of the pelvic bone under local anesthesia, or platelet-rich fibrin prepared from their own blood. Both injections are performed after regional anesthesia of the tibial nerve and under sterile conditions. The trial includes two groups, each receiving one of these treatments on the plantar fascia of the affected foot. During the study, participants will be monitored for pain levels using the Visual Analog Scale and for any adverse events at multiple time points up to 24 months. Foot function is assessed with a special score at several visits, and ultrasound will measure plantar fascia thickness before treatment and one year later. The total follow-up allows researchers to evaluate both safety and effectiveness over time, contributing to understanding these regenerative therapies for heel pain.

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain that leads to significant healthcare costs and work disability, especially in Switzerland. Despite various treatments, no single approach has proven clearly superior, and there is no consensus on the best nonoperative therapy. Researchers are studying whether injecting botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) into the calf muscles can offer better treatment by targeting the muscle tightness that contributes to the condition. In this randomized study, participants are assigned to one of three groups. One group receives BTX-A injections into the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles along with physiotherapy and stretching exercises. The second group gets cortisone injections at the plantar fascia insertion site combined with the same physiotherapy. The third group receives saline injections as a placebo control, also combined with physiotherapy and stretching. Each BTX-A injection involves 100 units into each gastrocnemius muscle belly and 50 units into the soleus, totaling 250 units. Participants will be followed over time to assess changes in foot pain, health, disability, activity restriction, ankle motion, and inflammation. These evaluations occur at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months. MRI scans will assess inflammation before treatment and at 12 months. The study aims to provide clear evidence comparing BTX-A, cortisone, and placebo injections to help guide future treatment choices. The total duration of participation may last up to two years with regular assessments.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of multiple human placental membrane products, called CAMPs, combined with Standard of Care (SOC) versus SOC alone in treating nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs). This multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial uses a modified platform design to compare different CAMP products, including AM/Single and AM/Double, in promoting ulcer closure over 12 weeks. Participants will receive weekly treatments depending on their assigned group. The Standard of Care involves cleaning, debridement, moisture balance, and offloading or compression as appropriate. Those in CAMP groups will receive weekly applications of either AM/Single (a single layer human amniotic membrane allograft) or AM/Double (a double layer allograft) in addition to Standard of Care. Treatment continues until the ulcer closes or up to 12 weeks. During the study, participants will attend weekly visits for treatment and evaluation. Researchers will assess ulcer closure rates, time to closure, percent area reduction, pain changes, adverse events, and quality of life improvements over 12 weeks. The study monitors participants closely to measure healing progress and safety of the treatments throughout the trial duration.

Plantar fasciitis is a condition caused by degeneration of the plantar fascia due to repetitive stress, leading to heel pain and impaired balance during weight-bearing activities. This trial evaluates whether adding cognitive training exercises to stretching and strengthening exercises improves pain, foot function, and static balance better than stretching and strengthening exercises alone. The study is a randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effects of cognitive and neuromuscular control training on musculoskeletal function in people with plantar fasciitis. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The cognitive training group will perform a structured program integrating attention-demanding dual-task exercises with functional movement tasks, alongside stretching and strengthening exercises targeting the plantar fascia and lower limb muscles. The control group will perform only the conventional stretching and strengthening exercises focusing on flexibility and muscle tightness reduction. Exercise sessions will be conducted progressively over the intervention period based on participant performance. During the study, assessments will be made at the start and after 4 weeks of treatment to measure pain intensity using a visual analog scale, foot functional disability, and static balance. Participants must be able to stand and complete basic balance and functional tests. Researchers will monitor outcomes to compare how cognitive training combined with physical exercises affects pain, function, and balance compared to physical exercises alone. The total participation period will last 4 weeks.