Plantar fasciitis - Prognostic Indicators for Treatment Response

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A longitudinal study to evaluate the prognostic indicators for treatment response in patients with plantar fasciitis: A pilot Study

  • IRAS ID

    204488

  • Contact name

    Kara Ramsell

  • Contact email

    kjr1g08@soton.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Southampton

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    Submission ID:19265 , Submission ID:19265

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 7 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Plantar fasciitis (PF) is the most common cause of plantar heel pain. Patients often do not seek treatment until symptoms are considered chronic which can lead to a lengthy and unpredictable treatment response. Research has highlighted that there are certain characteristics that may act as predictors of patients treatment response these are commonly known as prognostic indicators. However the rationale for these indicators remains unclear. The aim of this pilot study is to determine the prognostic indictors for treatment response in patients with PF. A longitudinal study that adopts a positivistic quantitative approach will be used. The prognostic indicators for the purposes of this research are demographics, plantar fascia structure, vascularity, and foot biomechanics.

    A convenient sample of 32 participants with a clinician confirmed diagnosis of PF referred into the podiatry biomechanics department within one NHS Foundation Trust will be recruited. All Prognostic characteristics will be taken at their initial appointment. Their pain and the impact of this will be recorded. The standard treatment regime will be given to all participants. All participants will be asked to return in 6 and 12 weeks for follow up appointment and pain/function scores to be recorded.

    This will identify which characteristics are predictive of the most reduction in pain following treatment. It will serve to establish a baseline for a full study in the hope to move further toward developing a full prognostic model for treatment response for PF. In turn, this will allow practitioners to manage patient’s expectations of treatment for PF and help tailor patients treatment plan.

  • REC name

    London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/LO/1151

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 Jun 2016

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion