Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Foot Ankle Res 2021 Apr 26;14(1):34. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Sports and Exercise Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Bart's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft road, London, E1 4DG, UK.

Background: Plantar heel pain (PHP) accounts for 11-15% of foot symptoms requiring professional care in adults. Recovery is variable, with no robust prognostic guides for sufferers, clinicians or researchers. Therefore, we aimed to determine the validity, reliability and feasibility of questionnaire, clinical and biomechanical measures selected to generate a prognostic model in a subsequent cohort study. Read More

Cureus 2021 Mar 19;13(3):e13987. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Medical Sciences, Kota Bharu, MYS.

The heel of the foot is covered by highly specialized thick, glabrous skin containing fibroadipose tissue with numerous fibrous septae traversing the subcutaneous tissue, which acts as a shock-absorbent and prevents shearing of the skin. The loss of heel pad would cause interruption of the propelling function of the foot during walking. Therefore, heel pad reconstruction is an important procedure for wound closure in the acute phase and also functional reconstruction in delayed cases. Read More

Musculoskeletal Care 2021 Apr 17. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Studies have described general practitioner (GP) management of plantar heel pain from some countries; however, there is limited information from Australian general practice.

Objectives: To describe patient and GP characteristics, and management actions for plantar heel pain in Australian general practice.

Design: Secondary analysis of data from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) dataset. Read More

Pilot Feasibility Stud 2021 Apr 1;7(1):92. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Primary Care Centre Versus Arthritis, School of Medicine, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.

Background: Plantar heel pain (PHP) is common and impacts negatively on physical function and quality of life. Initial treatment usually comprises analgesia and self-management advice (SMA), with referral to a physiotherapist or podiatrist recommended only when symptoms persist. Systematic reviews highlight limitations of existing evidence for the effectiveness of exercises and orthoses. Read More

Br J Sports Med 2021 Mar 30. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Department of Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Prosthetics and Orthotics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Objective: To develop a best practice guide for managing people with plantar heel pain (PHP).

Methods: Mixed-methods design including systematic review, expert interviews and patient survey.

Data Sources: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, trial registries, reference lists and citation tracking. Read More

Pain Med 2021 Mar 24. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Universitat Internacional de CAtalunya (UIC-Barcelona), Barcelona. Spain.

Objective: Dry needling is commonly used for the management of plantar fasciitis. This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of dry needling over trigger points (TrPs) associated with plantar heel pain on pain intensity and related disability or function.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials where at least one group received dry needling, not acupuncture, for TrPs associated with plantar heel pain and collected outcomes on pain intensity and related-disability. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2021 Mar 21. Epub 2021 Mar 21.

Midwifery Department, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of plantar reflexology on the severity of labor pain and childbirth experience (primary outcomes) and the duration of labor stages (secondary outcomes).

Methods: This single-blind randomized controlled trial was performed on 90 women in Al-Zahra and Taleghani hospitals in Tabriz-Iran. Participants were randomly assigned into three groups; Intervention 1 (two 30-min massages at the effective point of pain for each sole), intervention 2 (one 30-min massage at the effective point of pain and one 30-min massage at the heel for each sole), and control (two 30-minute heel massages). Read More

Clin Podiatr Med Surg 2021 Apr 13;38(2):xi. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

Foot and Ankle Department, The Iowa Clinic, 5950 University Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50266, USA. Electronic address:

Clin Podiatr Med Surg 2021 Apr 28;38(2):ix. Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Redwood Orthopedic Surgery Associates, 208 Concourse Boulevard, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, USA. Electronic address:

Clin Podiatr Med Surg 2021 Apr 13;38(2):245-259. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

Highlands-Presbyterian, St. Luke's Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency Program, 1719 East 19th Avenue, Denver, CO 80218, USA.

Plantar fasciitis has been considered an acute inflammatory disorder. However, the local histologic findings represent a more chronic, degenerative state without inflammation. Patients may be stuck in a chronic state of cyclical inflammation leading to tissue degeneration, refractory symptoms, and disability. Read More

Clin Podiatr Med Surg 2021 Apr 13;38(2):193-200. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

Podiatric Surgical Residency, John Peter Smith Hospital, Acclaim Physician Group, 1500 S. Main Street, 3rd Floor OPC Building, Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA. Electronic address:

Many randomized controlled trials demonstrate the effectiveness of conservative treatment of plantar fasciitis. Patients with acute plantar fasciitis generally respond to treatment more rapidly and more predictably than patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. If conservative treatment fails, endoscopic plantar fasciotomy offers patients a more prompt return to activity compared with open procedures. Read More

Support Care Cancer 2021 Mar 21. Epub 2021 Mar 21.

Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.

Purpose: Focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (fESWT) has been shown to be effective in a large number of musculoskeletal disorders. Until 2016, cancer was considered a contraindication for fESWT. The goal of this Commentary is to address the subject of fESWT in cancer patients and present a case of a successful application of fESWT in a breast cancer patient with metastatic bone disease, suffering from debilitating heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Mar 19;11(1):6451. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Discipline of Podiatry, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086, Australia.

Foot posture and ankle joint dorsiflexion have long been proposed to be risk factors for plantar heel pain, however body mass may be a confounder when investigating these factors. The aim of this study was to determine if clinical measures of foot posture and ankle joint dorsiflexion differ in adults with and without plantar heel pain after accounting for body mass. This was a cross-sectional observational study that compared 50 participants with plantar heel pain to 25 control participants without plantar heel pain who were matched for age, sex and body mass index. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 Mar 16;11(1):5986. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Current treatments of plantar fasciitis are based on the premise that the Achilles tendon (AT) and plantar fascia (PF) are mechanically directly linked, which is an area of debate. The aim of this study was to assess the morphological relationship between the AT and PF. Nineteen cadaveric feet were x-ray imaged, serially sectioned and plastinated for digital image analyses. Read More

J Clin Orthop Trauma 2021 Feb 6;13:9-14. Epub 2020 Sep 6.

Department of Orthopaedics, Dr BSA Medical College and Hospital, Delhi, India.

Background: Plantar fasciitis, which is a common cause of heel pain, often results in significant morbidity. In cases who are not responsive to initial conservative treatment, invasive procedures, often in the form of local infiltration of steroid are required. These procedures are associated with significant complications. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 02 12;18(4). Epub 2021 Feb 12.

Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge, Campus Universitario, Autov. A23 km 299, Villanueva de Gállego, 50830 Zaragoza, Spain.

Plantar heel pain is a common cause of foot pain that affects patients' quality of life and represents a significant cost for the healthcare system. Dry needling and percutaneous needle electrolysis are two minimally invasive treatments that were shown to be effective for the management of plantar heel pain. The aim of our study was to compare these two treatments in terms of health and economic consequences based on the results of a published randomized controlled trial. Read More

Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2021 Feb 27;82(2):1-7. Epub 2021 Feb 27.

Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Royal Surrey Hospital, Guildford, Surrey, UK.

Heel pain and a history of a 'pop' or feeling 'something go' are the buzz phrases classically associated with Achilles tendon rupture. However, the diagnosis is often missed in clinical practice because of the assumption that this is a sporting injury suffered only by the young or middle-aged. In a sedentary older patient, the injury may be dismissed as an ankle sprain. Read More

Musculoskeletal Care 2021 Feb 25. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Angus Physiotherapy Department, NHS Tayside, Arbroath Infirmary, Arbroath, DD11 2AT, UK.

Background: Plantar heel pain (PHP) is considered a tendinopathy and it affects up to 10% of the population. Both heavy slow resistance training (HSRT) and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) have shown effectiveness for treating PHP in isolation. However, more comprehensive exercise protocols and progression methods are needed due to poor long-term outcomes, and better standardisation of ESWT protocols are required. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2021 Feb 24;16(1):153. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

University of Alcalá, Madrid. School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Nursery and Physiotherapy, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.

Background: This study aims to analyze the clinical outcome of a new ultrasound-guided surgery for partial plantar fasciotomy performed with a needle for treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 107 patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis who underwent ultrasound-guided release of the plantar fascia. The series included 62 males (57. Read More

J Sport Rehabil 2021 Feb 16:1-6. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Clinical Scenario: Plantar heel pain is a common condition frequently associated with persistent symptoms and functional limitations affecting both the athletic and nonathletic populations. Common interventions target impairments at the foot and ankle and local drivers of symptoms. If symptoms are predominantly perpetuated by alterations in central pain processing, addressing peripheral impairments alone may not be sufficient. Read More

J Foot Ankle Surg 2020 Sep 3. Epub 2020 Sep 3.

Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY; Associate Professor of Orthopedics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY. Electronic address:

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a promising treatment for plantar fasciitis (PF), however, treatment results have varied due to inconsistencies among types of shock wave treatment and devices used. This retrospective chart review includes patients who underwent ESWT using the OrthoGold 100™ shock wave device (MTS, Konstanz, Germany) for PF between January, 2013 and September, 2018. There were 108 patients (119 heels) identified, with a mean age of 51. Read More

Arthrosc Tech 2021 Jan 19;10(1):e15-e20. Epub 2020 Dec 19.

ICATME, Hospital Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain.

Plantar fasciitis is a common condition of heel pain with a lifetime incidence up to 10%. For this entity, conservative treatment is considered the gold standard, involving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, stretching exercises of the plantar fascia, activity modifications, ice, and insoles. When patients do not respond to these treatments, partial or total plantar fascia release has been the mainstay of treatment, with success rates of approximately 70% to 90%. Read More

Sports Health 2021 May-Jun;13(3):296-303. Epub 2021 Feb 3.

Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Context: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common condition in active individuals. The lack of agreement on PF etiology makes treatment challenging and highlights the importance of understanding risk factors for preventive efforts.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine what factors may put physically active individuals at risk of developing PF. Read More

Strahlenther Onkol 2021 Jan 27. Epub 2021 Jan 27.

MVZ Meine Strahlentherapie Nürnberg GmbH, Weiltinger Str. 11, 90449, Nuremberg, Germany.

Purpose: To estimate the long-term effect of low-dose radiotherapy of painful plantar calcaneal spurs, and to verify possible prognostic factors.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective unicenter study, electronic patient files of patients with painful plantar calcaneal spurs treated with low-dose radiotherapy between July 2009 and February 2020 were reviewed. The low-dose radiotherapy consisted of a total dose of 3. Read More

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2021 Feb 24;82:105252. Epub 2020 Dec 24.

Instituto de Biomécanica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: Foot pain is a highly prevalent health problem for which measures such as a pattern of Pressure Discomfort Threshold of the foot plantar surface can provide valuable information for orthosis design. This study aimed to describe such pattern as a tool for the assessment of painful conditions of the feet and to analyse how it modifies according to age, gender and obesity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with participants allocated in: Group 1 people aged 20 to 35 years, Group 2 aged 50 to 65 years and Group 3 aged over 65. Read More

Foot Ankle Spec 2021 Jan 19:1938640020980924. Epub 2021 Jan 19.

Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Design: Chronic plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common cause of chronic heel pain, with different conventional treatment options. In this randomized clinical trial, the effect of ultrasound-guided injection of dextrose versus corticosteroid in chronic PF was evaluated and compared.

Methods: A total of 44 patients suffering from chronic PF who visited the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic were enrolled in the study. Read More

Int J Clin Pract 2021 May 21;75(5):e13993. Epub 2021 Jan 21.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gaziler Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Aim: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is known as one of the most effective treatment methods in plantar fasciitis (PF). Low-dye taping, which is the most preferred method of banding treatments, provides an analgesic effect by correcting biomechanics. It was aimed to compare the efficacy of adjuvant low-dye kinesio-taping (KT), sham-taping, or ESWT alone in PF. Read More

Foot Ankle Surg 2020 Dec 25. Epub 2020 Dec 25.

Seoul Foot and Ankle Center, Dubalo Orthopaedic Clinic, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Background: A common challenge in flatfoot reconstruction arises when there are multiple locations of collapse within the medial column. An extension of arthrodesis may lead to complications such as stiffness or adjacent joint arthritis. The purpose of this study was to report outcomes of flatfoot reconstruction using the dynamic medial column stabilization (DMCS) technique, which transfers the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon to the first metatarsal base to support the entire medial column. Read More

J Appl Biomech 2020 Dec 26;37(2):87-94. Epub 2020 Dec 26.

Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the foot posture, ankle muscle strength, range of motion (ROM), and plantar sensation differences among normal weight, overweight, and obese individuals. One hundred and twenty-three individuals (42 normal weight, 40 overweight, and 41 obese) aged between 18 and 50 years participated in the study. Foot posture, ankle muscle strength, ROM, plantar sensation, and foot-related disabilities were evaluated. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2020 Dec 3;21(1):804. Epub 2020 Dec 3.

Center for General Practice at Aalborg University, Fyrkildevej 7, 9220, Aalborg East, Denmark.

Background: Despite the established relevance of ultrasonography and assessment of pressure pain thresholds in patients with plantar fasciopathy, patient and probe positioning has been mostly ignored and are not necessarily reported in research. The primary aim of this study was to compare plantar fascia thickness in stretched and relaxed positions in patients with plantar fasciopathy. The secondary aim was to compare plantar heel pressure pain thresholds in these positions. Read More