Tissue-specific plantar fascia-stretching exercise enhances outcomes in patients with chronic heel pain. A prospective, randomized study.

In this study, plantar fascia specific stretching was evaluated in 101 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. The patients studied had diagnosed plantar fasciitis for at least 10 months. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group was given a plantar fascia tissue-stretching program and the second group was given an Achilles tendon-stretching program. All patients were educated by a video on plantar fasciitis, were given specific insoles and an anti-inflammatory medication for 3 weeks.

At 8 weeks, 82 patients had completed the therapy regimen and were reevaluated. The patients with the plantar fascia specific stretching program showed statistically significant improvement compared with the Achilles tendon stretching program.

Conclusion: A plantar fascia specific stretching program provides more benefit than an Achilles tendon stretching program, for those with plantar fasciitis.

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2003 Jul;85-A(7):1270-7

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Plantar Fascia-Specific Stretching Exercise Improves Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Prospective Clinical Trial with Two-Year Follow-Up

This is the follow-up study on the plantar fascia-stretching study mentioned above. This study evaluates the long term outcomes of the plantar fascia specific stretching regimen. After the 8 weeks and success was noted with the specific stretching routine, the patients originally using the Achilles tendon-stretching program were encouraged to use the plantar fascia specific stretching program for 8 weeks.

At 2 years, 82 patients were mailed a questionnaire to address their pain, function and satisfaction with treatment. Sixty six of the 82 patients responded. Ninty-two percent of those who responded reported total satisfaction or satisfaction with some minor reservations regarding their treatment. Sixteen of the 66 who responded said they did seek further treatment by a clinician.

Conclusion: A plantar fascia specific stretching program can provide long term benefits for those with plantar fasciitis.

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006 Aug;88(8):1775-81

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