The Effect of Barefoot Walking Plantar Chronic Heel Pain
Condition: Plantar Fascitis
MeSH terms: Fasciitis; Fasciitis, Plantar
Study type: Interventional

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.
    

Intervention name(s): walking on a treadmill
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): 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
Other intervention name(s): Ultrasound wave therapy
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: The study will include 52 subjects with heel pain for more than 12 weeks. The subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: a barefoot walking group on a treadmill and a walking group in shoes on a treadmill. The subjects will receive treatment twice a week at the Meuhedet Health Fund Institute for 4 weeks. All subjects will be instructed to walk on the treadmill until they reach level 6 on the Short Borg Scale. In addition, all subjects will receive an ultrasound treatment for 5 minutes each session. Before and after the intervention, the subjects will complete the SF-36 questionnaire, and will assess the level of pain they experience on the heel during initial treading down from the bed in the morning. In addition, the minimum pain threshold and pain tolerance will be checked with an algometer at relevant points in the heel and the speed and walking time will be documented.
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: chronic plantar heel pain; barefoot; treadmill; Plantar Fascitis