Plantar Fasciitis

Disorders affecting tendons and ligaments are among the most common musculoskeletal problems, causing pain, swelling, and reduced quality of life. Plantar fasciitis, a chronic and painful condition involving the thick ligament in the foot, is a frequent issue that results from repeated stress and injury. This research evaluates a new herbal patch called CDAM to explore its potential benefits for treating plantar fasciitis compared to a standard ketoprofen patch. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the CDAM herbal patch or a 2% ketoprofen patch, both combined with a standard home stretching exercise program. The CDAM patch contains a proprietary traditional Chinese medicine formula developed to reduce inflammation and support tissue healing. Treatment effects will be studied over several weeks to assess improvements in foot function and pain relief. During the study, participants will complete the Foot Function Index questionnaire at 3, 6, and 8 weeks to measure changes in foot function and symptoms. Researchers will monitor responses through these assessments to evaluate treatment impact. The study is double-blind and randomized, ensuring objective comparison between the two patches. The total study period extends up to the end of 2028, allowing thorough follow-up of participants progress.

This research aims to assess the safety and performance of MagnetOs Putty and MagnetOs Easypack Putty, synthetic bone graft extenders, compared to autogenous bone graft in patients undergoing hindfoot or ankle fusions. The study focuses on treating hindfoot and ankle disorders requiring rigid hardware fixation and supplemental bone graft or substitute. It is a randomized, single-blind, controlled, multi-center phase IV post-marketing study involving adult patients aged 18 to 75 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either MagnetOs PuttyEasypack Putty or autograft harvested from the calcaneus, distal tibia, or proximal tibia along with rigid hardware fixation during surgery. The volume used depends on the joint fused, with 1-5 cc for talonavicular, calcaneocuboid, and subtalar joints, and up to 10 cc for the tibiotalar joint. The surgical procedures include ankle fusion, subtalar fusion, calcaneocuboid fusion, talonavicular fusion, or double fusion of two of these joints. Participants will be followed up with radiographs at screening and weeks 6, 12, 24, and 52 post-surgery, with CT scans at weeks 24 and 52 to evaluate radiographic fusion. Functional assessments will also be conducted throughout the study period. If secondary surgical interventions occur after six months, CT scans may be adjusted. The primary outcome is radiographic fusion by CT scan at 24 weeks post-operation. Safety and efficacy are monitored for one year after surgery, with weight-bearing X-rays starting at week 12.

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 treatments 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 Mearys 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 AMSingle and AMDouble, 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 AMSingle a single layer human amniotic membrane allograft or AMDouble 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.