Effect of foot intrinsic muscle training in subjects with plantar fasciitis – A randomized clinical trial

Background: Flat foot or excessive pronation causes altered biomechanics of lower limb which leads to excessive mobility which puts increased stress on the plantar fascia. It has been found out that there is significant atrophy of foot intrinsic muscles in people with plantar fasciitis. Foot intrinsic muscle training is commonly used to control the excessive pronation. Studies have been done to know the effect of Foot intrinsic muscle training in normal subjects but no study is available in people with plantar fasciitis.
Objective: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of foot intrinsic muscle training and traditional physiotherapy in subjects with plantar fasciitis.
Methodology: 64 Subjects were participated in study with age group between 18 – 50 years who had met the inclusion criteria. They were randomly divided in to two groups, Foot intrinsic muscle training group and Traditional physiotherapy approach group. Outcome measures were Foot function index and navicular drop test.
Results: Statistical analysis was conducted in order to identify differences between the experimental and the control group. Overall, there were clinical significance difference in Pain score (p<0.001), Activity limitation (p<0.001), and Navicular drop (p<0.001), but Disability has shown no clinically significant differencein both FIMT and TP.
Conclusion: There was a significant difference between foot intrinsic muscle training group with Traditional physiotherapy group in Pain, Activity limitation and Navicular Drop but no significance difference in Disability which indicates intrinsic muscle training of foot is superior to traditional treatment approach in the management of pain, activity limitation and navicular drop plantar fasciitis.