NCT03677167

The Effect of Barefoot Walking Plantar Chronic Heel Pain

The Effect of Barefoot Walking on Pain Level, Functional Status and Pressure Pain Threshold in Patients With Plantar Chronic Heel Pain

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 52 (actual)
• Sponsor: Meuhedet. Healthcare Organization · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Many patients suffer from chronic heel pain, and studies have not yet found the most appropriate treatment. There are some researchers who claim that the pain is caused by weakness in the muscles of the foot, which causes increased pressure in the heel. In walking, the muscles of the foot are activated and strengthened. No research has yet been done on whether walking (barefoot or with shoes) on a treadmill reduces pain in the heel and improves function.

Detailed description

A bare foot functions differently than a foot in a shoe while walking, as there are differences in movement, muscle tone, pressure and sensation. Wearing shoes over the years can cause changes in walking and pain. In the examination of the feet of patients suffering from chronic pain in the heel was found a smaller volume of muscle, and calcification in the heel area that could be caused by increased pressure. Although the trend of physiotherapy treatments has changed in recent years from passive to active treatments, the overwhelming majority of studies are testing passive therapies only as a treatment option for chronic heel pain. Barefoot walking has not been tested as an option for treating chronic pain in the heel, although there are studies indicating that bare feet lead to reduced heel pressure, increased muscle work, and better proprioception.The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of barefoot walking on the level of pain, function and pain threshold for stress in patients with chronic heel pain.

Conditions

• Plantar Fascitis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	walking on a treadmill	Patients will go on the treadmill (barefoot or with shoes) twice a week for a month, up to a medium-high level effort, and will receive ultrasound treatment for the painful heel spot

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-08-29
• Primary completion: 2020-08-31
• Completion: 2020-08-31
• First posted: 2018-09-19
• Last updated: 2020-09-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Israel