Comparison of usual podiatric care and early physical therapy intervention for plantar heel pain: study protocol for a parallel-group randomized clinical trial

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Plantar Fasciitis Amongst the Population of Jazan

Background

Plantar fasciitis develops as a consequence of irritation of the plantar fascia, which is responsible for supporting the arches and absorbing shock. Multiple factors can contribute to plantar fasciitis, but the most common factor is overuse stress. The classical presentation is a sharp pain that is felt at the plantar aponeurosis (near the area of its insertion on the medial process of the calcaneal tuberosity), and it is possible to find a heel spur (osteophyte) in some cases. Most treatments for plantar fasciitis are ineffective and unsatisfactory for patients.

Objective

To estimate the prevalence and assess risk factors for plantar fasciitis among the population of the Jazan region.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on the population of the Jazan region. An online Google form questionnaire was prepared and distributed to the study population. Data was then entered and analyzed using IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) Statistics, version 21.0.

Results

A total of 695 participants were enrolled in the study. Out of that, 350 (50.4%) of the participants were males, while 345 (49.6%) were females. About the age of the participants, 507 (72.9%) were younger than 40 years of age. Participants with hypertension were 43 (6.2%), and 37 (5.3%) participants had diabetes. In terms of occupation, 120 (17.3%) worked in healthcare, 187 (26.9%) taught, and 43 (6.2%) served in the military. A great quantity of standing or walking was necessary for the jobs for 127 people (18.3%), while moderate amounts were recorded for 273 people (39.3%). The most commonly reported lower limb conditions were: pes planus (low arches) in 26 (3.7%) participants; and weakness of the gastrocnemius, soleus, and intrinsic foot muscles. The most commonly reported exercises were walking for 499 (71.8%) participants and jogging for 97 (14%) participants. The prevalence of plantar fasciitis was found to be 37% of the participants. Regarding the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) survey, the mean symptoms subscale score was 57.81 + 11.28, the mean pain subscale score was 72.87±20.84, the mean daily living subscale score was 72.73 ± 22.25, the mean sports and recreation subscale score was 76.83 ± 23.06, and the mean quality of life subscale score was 70.23 ± 25.17. Multivariate logistic regression was done and the following factors predicted a higher rate of plantar fasciitis: being 40 to 55 years old (p < 0.001, odds ratio = 2.15), being 56 to 65 years old (p = 0.037, odds ratio = 3.58), being obese (p = 0.031, odds ratio = 2.16), having weakness of the gastrocnemius, soleus, and the intrinsic foot muscles (p = 0.003, odds ratio = 7.39), jobs requiring a great amount of time standing or walking (p < 0.001, odds ratio = 3.17), and jobs requiring a moderate amount of time standing or walking (p = 0.012, odds ratio = 1.83). Being male predicted a lower rate of plantar fasciitis (p < 0.001, odds ratio = 0.52).

Conclusion

Plantar fasciitis is a prevalent and disabling condition with considerable effects on quality of life. Jobs that require long hours of walking or standing were associated with an increased risk of developing plantar fasciitis. Middle age, prolonged exercise, and gastrocnemius muscle tightness were also associated with plantar fasciitis. Efforts should be directed towards health education of the population regarding the risk factors and management of plantar fasciitis.

Effectiveness of physical therapy treatment in addition to usual podiatry management of plantar heel pain: a randomized clinical trial

Background

Many patients will seek care from a podiatrist for plantar heel pain (PHP), while few of these patients will also be seen by a physical therapist. Physical therapists can provide treatment that is not a part of routine podiatric care for PHP and may provide additional improvement. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of interdisciplinary care for PHP that incorporated physical therapy treatment after initiating podiatric treatment.

Methods

Eligible individuals with PHP that presented to a podiatrist were randomized to receive usual podiatric care (uPOD) or usual podiatric care plus physical therapy treatment (uPOD+PT). The primary outcome was change in foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) at 6-months. Secondary outcomes included change in numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), patient-reported success, and 6-week and 1-year endpoints. Patient-reported success was defined as the top two global rating of change scale rankings. Primary analysis was intention-to-treat (ITT) using analysis by covariance adjusted to baseline scores, and a secondary per-protocol (PP) analysis was performed analyzing only those who completed treatment.

Results

Ninety-five individuals participated and were included in the ITT analysis, and 79 were included in the PP analysis. For the primary outcome of FAAM change from baseline to 6-months, both groups improved significantly (uPOD+PT: 26.8 [95% CI 21.6, 31.9]; uPOD: (20 [15.6, 24.4]), but there was no between-group difference (4.3 [− 1, 9.6]). For secondary outcomes, the uPOD+PT group demonstrated greater improvement in NPRS at 6 weeks (0.9 [0.3, 1.4]) and 1 year (1.5 [0.6, 2.5]) in the ITT analysis. In the PP analysis, the uPOD+PT group demonstrated greater improvement in FAAM at 6 months (7.7 [2.1, 13.3]) and 1 year (5.5 [0.1, 10.8]), NPRS at 6 weeks (0.9 [0.2, 1.6]), 6 months (1.3 [0.6, 2.1]) and 1 year (1.3 [0.6, 2.1]), and in patient-reported success (relative risk [95% CI]) at 6 weeks (2.8 [1.1, 7.1]), 6 months (1.5 [1.1, 2.1]), and 1 year (1.5 [1.1, 1.9]).

Conclusions

There was no significant benefit of uPOD+PT in the primary outcome of FAAM change at 6 months. Secondary outcomes and PP analysis indicated additional benefit of uPOD+PT, mostly observed in individuals who completed treatment.

Trial registration

Prospectively registered May 24, 2013 at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01865734).

Physical therapist decision-making in managing plantar heel pain: cases from a pragmatic randomized clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Plantar heel pain (PHP) is a common condition managed by physical therapists that can, at times, be difficult to treat. Management of PHP is complicated by a variety of pathoanatomic features associated with PHP in addition to several treatment approaches with varying efficacy. Although clinical guidelines and clinical trial data support a general approach to management, the current literature is limited in case-specific descriptions of PHP management that addresses unique combinations of pathoanatomical, physical, and psychosocial factors that are associated with PHP. Purpose: The purpose of this case series is to describe physical therapist decision-making of individualized multimodal treatment for PHP cases presenting with varied clinical presentations. Treatment incorporated clinical guidelines and recent evidence including a combination of manual therapy, patient education, stretching, resistance training, and neurodynamic interventions. A common clinical decision-making framework was used to progress individualized treatment from a focus on symptom modulation initially to increased load tolerance of involved tissues and graded activity. In each case, patients met their individual goals and demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in pain, function, and global rating of change that were maintained at the 1-2-year follow-up. Implications: This case series provides details of physical therapist management of a variety of PHP clinical presentations that can be used to complement clinical practice guidelines in the management of PHP.

Predictors of response to physical therapy intervention for plantar heel pain

BACKGROUND

Age, weight, and duration of symptoms have been associated with a poor response to treatment for plantar heel pain (PHP), but no studies were identified that examined predictors of response to physical therapy intervention. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of age, body mass index (BMI), and symptom duration on treatment response to physical therapy intervention.

METHODS

Sixty participants received 6 visits over 4 weeks of physical therapy intervention that included manual therapy and exercise or electrophysiological agents and exercise. Outcomes were assessed using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and Global Rating of Change Scale (GRC). Logistic regression (P < .05) was used to analyze age, BMI, and symptom duration as potential predictors of a successful response based on the minimal clinically important difference of the outcome measures. Sensitivity analysis was used to assess the influence of success based on minimal clinically important changes in the FAAM, NPRS, and GRC or only the FAAM and NPRS. Receiver operating curves were used to determine the cut point for the significant predictor.

RESULTS

At the 6-month follow-up to physical therapy intervention, NPRS was improved by 3 points (95% CI, 2.4-3.6) and FAAM improved by 22.5 points (95% CI, 16.8-28.2). Individuals with symptoms less than 7.2 months were 4.2 (95% CI, 1.3-13.8; P = .016) and 8.5 (95% CI, 2.5-28.9; P = .001) times more likely to respond to treatment based on the NPRS/FAAM/GRC and NPRS/FAAM success criteria, respectively. Age and BMI were not significant predictors (P ≥ .455 and P ≥ .450, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Age and BMI were not associated with outcomes and obese individuals did achieve a successful outcome with the physical therapy intervention used in the clinical trial. Individuals with PHP symptoms longer than 7 months require additional consideration and further investigation of effective strategies to improve treatment response.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognosis, level 2b comparative study.