Effects of dry needling and stretching exercise versus stretching exercise only on pain intensity, function, and sonographic characteristics of plantar fascia in the subjects with plantar fasciitis: a parallel single-blinded randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Plantar fasciitis is a common problem in the foot region which has negative considerable impact on foot function.

Methods

In this parallel blinded randomized controlled trial, a total of thirty-seven subjects with plantar fasciitis (forty feet) were enrolled randomly to either the control group (stretching exercise) or the experimental group (stretching exercise plus dry needling). All interventions lasted six weeks and both groups were followed for two weeks. Primary outcomes were first step pain, pain, and activity daily function subscales of the FAOS questionnaire and secondary outcomes were plantar fascia thickness, and echogenicity.

Results

The mixed model ANOVAs showed significant group × time interactions for all primary outcomes. In both groups, first step pain and both subscales of the FAOS questionnaire were improved compared to baseline measurements. There were considerable differences between the two groups and the experimental group experienced more improvements in primary outcomes compared to the control group. For secondary outcomes, plantar fascia thickness at insertion significantly decreased, and the echogenicity in the two regions significantly increased in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the combination of dry needling and stretching exercises can be an effective conservative treatment for plantar fasciitis subjects.

KEYWORDS:

• Plantar fasciitis
• dry needling
• stretching exercise
• ultrasound imaging

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services [98-3-103-38866].