Massage Therapy for Plantar fasciitis

What the research says...

Massage therapy has gained recognition as a potential treatment option for plantar fasciitis, a common condition characterized by heel pain and inflammation of the plantar fascia. Research has shown that a multifaceted approach to treating plantar fasciitis is essential (Garrett & Neibert, 2013). Massage therapy, myofascial release (MFR), and trigger point therapy are manual techniques that have been explored in the context of plantar fasciitis treatment (Russel et al., 2022). These techniques aim to alleviate pain and improve function by targeting the affected tissues directly.

Studies have highlighted the importance of stretching exercises in managing plantar fasciitis. A gastrocnemius-soleus stretching program has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of plantar fasciitis (Arif & Hafeez, 2022). Additionally, tissue-specific stretching exercises and myofascial release techniques have shown promising results in chronic cases of plantar fasciitis (Khan et al., 2021).

Furthermore, the use of joint mobilizations and friction techniques in massage therapy may help improve the range of motion and reduce pain associated with plantar fasciitis. These techniques can target specific areas of tension and adhesions in the plantar fascia, contributing to symptom relief (Russel et al., 2022).

In conclusion, massage therapy, including techniques such as myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and joint mobilizations, can be valuable components of a comprehensive treatment approach for plantar fasciitis. By incorporating these manual therapies along with stretching exercises and considering individual anatomical and biomechanical factors, massage therapists can effectively contribute to the management of plantar fasciitis and help improve patient outcomes.

Reviewed by Predrag Jancic, MD

References

The Effectiveness of a Gastrocnemius–Soleus Stretching Program as a Therapeutic Treatment of Plantar

…5 Theoretically, when this stretch is performed prior to the first morning steps or after prolonged sitting or inactivity, plantar fascia-specific stretching helps limit microtrauma to the plantar fascia, thereby facilitating healing. 1 Clinicians should take a multifaceted approach to treating a patient with plantar fasciitis. If there are limitations in dorsiflexion, these should be addressed with gastrocnemius-soleus stretching while including plantar fascia-specific stretching.…”

Troy Garrett, Peter J. Neibert 2013

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation

Effect of MFR Technique Versus Static Stretching on Pain Among Adults with Plantar Fasciitis

Background: Disorder of plantar fascia caused from overuse, excessive overload or prolonged standing time is called plantar fasciitis. Conservative treatment is a primary choice of treatment for plantar fasciitis and physiotherapist play a vital role. Interventions such as ultrasound, soft tissue massage, orthotics, taping, hot pack, cold pack, stretching and strengthening exercises are used by physiotherapists for treatment of this condition.

Objectives: This study is aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of myofascial release technique and static stretching of plantar fascia, on pain among adults with plantar fasciitis.

Methods: All the subjects were screened as per the inclusion & exclusion criteria. After getting their written consent, a total of 42 plantar fasciitis patients with mean age of 28 years were included in the study. They were randomly allocated into two groups with n= 21 in each group. Group A was given Myofascial Release Technique whereas Group B was given Static Stretching on the affected plantar fascia. The interventions were carried out for twice a week for two weeks. Visual Analogue Scale was used as the outcome measure and it was measured pre- and post-intervention at baseline during week one and at the end of treatment at week two.

Results: The study demonstrated statistically significant difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment visual analogue scale scores, in both groups: MFR (p < .0001) and Static Stretching (p < .0011).

Conclusion: Both MFR as well as static stretching are effective in reducing pain in plantar fasciitis patients.

Suvinlal Stalin Russel, Sahu Deepali Nilanchal, Rahul Krishnan et al. 2022

IJPR

Effectiveness of Gastrocnemius-Soleus Stretching Program as a Therapeutic Treatment of Plantar Fasci

“…Introduction: Plantar fasciitis is a painful ailment that causes frustration to both the patient and physician. Stretching exercises targeting the plantar fascia are an excellent therapy option for plantar fasciitis.Objective: To compare the outcome of a gastrocnemius-soleus stretching program versus tendo Achilles stretching exercises for the management of chronic plantar fasciitis.Methods: Patients aged 30-70 years of either gender with chronic plantar fasciitis were included and randomly divided into two groups. In group A, the gastrocnemius-soleus stretching program was applied, whereas in group B, the tendo Achilles stretching exercises were adopted. The pain score was determined at baseline and after eight weeks, and the change in pain score was calculated. All information was noted in the proforma and then entered and analyzed in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21 (International Business Machines (IBM), New York, United States). An independent-samples ttest was conducted to compare the mean change in pain score in both groups. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant.Results: The mean age of the patients in the gastrocnemius-soleus stretching group was 48.70 ± 9.80 years, whereas that in the tendo Achilles stretching exercises group was 48.63 ± 8.43 years. Group A included 16 (53.3%) men and 14 (46.7%) women, whereas in group B, there were 15 (50%) men and 15 (50%) women. The mean change in pain score in group A was 2.57 ± 1.01, whereas that in group B was 1.77 ± 0.57. The difference in both groups was significant (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Gastrocnemius-soleus stretching exercises are more effective for reducing the symptoms of plantar fasciitis in the adult population.…”

Muhammad Arif, Sohail Hafeez 2022

Cureus

Role of Tissue Specific Plantar Fascia Stretching Exercises Versus Myofascial Released Technique in

“…The stretching exercises involve foot dorsiflexion with toes extension, effectively recreating the windlass mechanism. This promising result due to recreation of the windlass mechanism which support the role plantar fascia specific stretching exercises in plantar fasciitis [3]. These findings provided a specific option to the present standard of care in the non operative management of patients with chronic, disabling plantar heel pain.…”

Muhammad Qayyum Khan, Sikander Ali, Rabail Soomro 2021

J. Basic Appl. Sci.