| CTRI Number |
CTRI/2026/03/105661 [Registered on: 09/03/2026] Trial Registered Prospectively |
| Last Modified On: |
06/03/2026 |
| Post Graduate Thesis |
Yes |
| Type of Trial |
Interventional |
|
Type of Study
|
Physiotherapy (Not Including YOGA) |
| Study Design |
Randomized, Parallel Group, Active Controlled Trial |
|
Public Title of Study
|
Comparing Two Physiotherapy Treatments for Heel Pain and Difficulty in Moving the Ankle |
|
Scientific Title of Study
|
Effect of Tibial nerve neural mobilization versus Plantar fascia stretching on Pain, Ankle mobility and Function in individuals with Plantar fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial |
| Trial Acronym |
Nil |
|
Secondary IDs if Any
|
| Secondary ID |
Identifier |
| NIL |
NIL |
|
|
Details of Principal Investigator or overall Trial Coordinator (multi-center study)
|
| Name |
Apeksha Hungund |
| Designation |
Assistant Professor |
| Affiliation |
Kle Institute of Physiotherapy |
| Address |
KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Advanced
Physiotherapy Centre Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Department, Room number 13
Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, Karnataka-590010
Belgaum KARNATAKA 590010 India |
| Phone |
8310725829 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
apeksha_hungund@klekipt.edu.in |
|
Details of Contact Person Scientific Query
|
| Name |
Apeksha Hungund |
| Designation |
Assistant Professor |
| Affiliation |
Kle Institute of Physiotherapy |
| Address |
KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Advanced
Physiotherapy Centre Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Department, Room number 13
Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, Karnataka-590010
Belgaum KARNATAKA 590010 India |
| Phone |
8310725829 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
apeksha_hungund@klekipt.edu.in |
|
Details of Contact Person Public Query
|
| Name |
Shivam Urankar |
| Designation |
Post graduate student |
| Affiliation |
Kle Institute of Physiotherapy |
| Address |
KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Advanced
Physiotherapy Centre Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Department, Room number 13
Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, Karnataka-590010
Belgaum KARNATAKA 590010 India |
| Phone |
7483118847 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
shivamurankar2002@gmail.com |
|
|
Source of Monetary or Material Support
|
|
|
Primary Sponsor
|
| Name |
KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research Center |
| Address |
KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Advanced
Physiotherapy Centre Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Department, Room number 13
Nehru Nagar, Belagavi, Karnataka-590010 |
| Type of Sponsor |
Private medical college |
|
|
Details of Secondary Sponsor
|
|
|
Countries of Recruitment
|
India |
|
Sites of Study
|
| No of Sites = 1 |
| Name of Principal
Investigator |
Name of Site |
Site Address |
Phone/Fax/Email |
| Shivam urankar |
KLE Dr Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC |
Department of OMT Physiotherapy room number 13, Sagar Floor, KLE Dr Prabhakar Kore Hospital Belagavi Karnataka - 590010 Belgaum KARNATAKA INDIA Belgaum KARNATAKA |
7483118847
shivamurankar2002@gmail.com |
|
|
Details of Ethics Committee
|
| No of Ethics Committees= 1 |
| Name of Committee |
Approval Status |
| Research & Ethical committe, Institute of physiotherapy, Belagavi. |
Approved |
|
|
Regulatory Clearance Status from DCGI
|
|
|
Health Condition / Problems Studied
|
| Health Type |
Condition |
| Patients |
(1) ICD-10 Condition: M708||Other soft tissue disorders related to use, overuse and pressure, |
|
|
Intervention / Comparator Agent
|
| Type |
Name |
Details |
| Comparator Agent |
Plantar fascia stretching technique |
he control group (Group B) in the study receives plantar fascia stretching as the sole intervention, administered over a structured treatment period of three weeks, with three sessions per week, and each session lasting 15–20 minutes. The participant is positioned in a sitting posture, ensuring comfort and adequate access to the plantar aspect of the foot. The therapist applies a manual stretch to the plantar fascia by passively dorsiflexing the hallux (great toe), which tensions the plantar fascia along its length. Each stretch is maintained for 30 seconds and repeated five times per session, allowing sufficient duration to enhance tissue extensibility. This intervention is designed to reduce mechanical stress on the plantar fascia, decrease heel pain, and improve functional tolerance during weight-bearing activities such as walking and standing.
Outcome measures for the control group are recorded before and after the intervention period. Pain intensity is assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), ankle mobility is measured using a universal goniometer to assess ankle range of motion, and functional status is evaluated using the Plantar Fasciitis Pain/Disability Scale, which examines pain, disability, and activity limitation specific to plantar fasciitis. |
| Intervention |
Tibial nerve neural mobilization technique |
The study includes two intervention groups, each receiving treatment for three weeks with three sessions per week, and each session lasting 15–20 minutes. Group A receives tibial nerve neural mobilization, performed in the supine position with the hip flexed 30–45 degrees and the knee extended. Ankle dorsiflexion with eversion is used as a sensitizing movement, and a rhythmic slider technique is applied in three sets of ten repetitions per session to improve neural mobility and reduce pain. Group B receives plantar fascia stretching in a sitting position, where the therapist applies a stretch by dorsiflexing the hallux. Each stretch is held for 30 seconds and repeated five times per session to improve plantar fascia flexibility and reduce heel pain. Outcome measures are assessed before and after the intervention period and include pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale, ankle range of motion measured with a universal goniometer, and functional performance evaluated using the Plantar Fasciitis Pain/Disability Scale. |
|
|
Inclusion Criteria
|
| Age From |
30.00 Year(s) |
| Age To |
50.00 Year(s) |
| Gender |
Both |
| Details |
Individuals aged thirty to fifty years
Diagnosed clinically with plantar heel pain plantar fasciitis of more than equal to four weeks weeks duration.
Pain localized to the medial plantar heel region, especially during the first steps in the morning or after rest
Individuals with positive Windlass test
Willingness to participate and provide informed consent
|
|
| ExclusionCriteria |
| Details |
Previous heel or foot surgery, or fractures involving the calcaneus or talus
Clinical diagnosis of tarsal tunnel syndrome.
History of systemic neuropathies example diabetic alcoholic neuropathy
Inflammatory arthropathies rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
Severe vascular disease or peripheral neuropathy affecting the lower limb.
Pregnancy or any contraindication to manual therapy
|
|
|
Method of Generating Random Sequence
|
Computer generated randomization |
|
Method of Concealment
|
On-site computer system |
|
Blinding/Masking
|
Participant Blinded |
|
Primary Outcome
|
| Outcome |
TimePoints |
Visual analogue scale
Ankle range of motion using universal goniometer
Plantar fasciitis pain disability scale |
All the three outcome measures will be assessed prior to the commencement of the intervention and after completion of four weeks of intervention |
|
|
Secondary Outcome
|
| Outcome |
TimePoints |
| Nil |
Nil |
|
|
Target Sample Size
|
Total Sample Size="36" Sample Size from India="36"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (Total)= "Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (India)="Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials" |
|
Phase of Trial
|
N/A |
|
Date of First Enrollment (India)
|
23/03/2026 |
| Date of Study Completion (India) |
Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials |
| Date of First Enrollment (Global) |
Date Missing |
| Date of Study Completion (Global) |
Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials |
|
Estimated Duration of Trial
|
Years="0" Months="6" Days="0" |
|
Recruitment Status of Trial (Global)
|
Not Yet Recruiting |
| Recruitment Status of Trial (India) |
Not Yet Recruiting |
|
Publication Details
|
N/A |
|
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement
|
Will individual participant data (IPD) be shared publicly (including data dictionaries)?
Response - NO
|
|
Brief Summary
|
The study is a randomized controlled trial comparing two conservative physiotherapy approaches for individuals with plantar fasciitis, consisting of an intervention group and a control group. Participants aged 30–50 years with clinically diagnosed plantar heel pain of at least four weeks’ duration, pain localized to the medial plantar heel region, positive Windlass test, and willingness to participate are included. Individuals with a history of heel or foot surgery, calcaneal or talar fractures, tarsal tunnel syndrome, systemic neuropathies, inflammatory arthropathies, severe vascular disease, pregnancy, or contraindications to manual therapy are excluded.
Participants are randomly allocated into two groups. The intervention group (Group A) receives tibial nerve neural mobilization, performed in a supine position with the hip flexed 30–45 degrees and the knee extended. Ankle dorsiflexion combined with eversion is used as a sensitizing movement, and a rhythmic slider technique is applied in three sets of ten repetitions per session. The control group (Group B) receives plantar fascia stretching, administered in a sitting position by passively dorsiflexing the hallux to tension the plantar fascia. Each stretch is held for 30 seconds and repeated five times per session. Both groups receive treatment for 15–20 minutes per session, three sessions per week for three weeks.
Outcome measures are assessed before and after the intervention period and include pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), ankle range of motion measured with a universal goniometer, and functional performance evaluated using the Plantar Fasciitis Pain/Disability Scale, which assesses pain, disability, and activity limitation specific to plantar fasciitis |