Barefoot running and plantar fasciitis

NewsBot · May 18, 2019

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Barefoot Running As A Treatment For Plantar Fasciitis
In The Runner: A Case Series
Cassie Oddy et al
ACSM ANNUAL MEETING
May 28 – June 1, 2019 – Orlando, Florida

PURPOSE: Plantar fasciitis is the most common running related injury associated
with the foot and represents ~8% of all running injuries. The median recovery time for
plantar fasciitis is ~5-months. Following the failure of conservative management for a
female runner with plantar fasciitis, we trialled an alternate day treatment strategy of
barefoot running on a grass surface (10 - 15 minutes). This approach was successful
and was published as a medical case report. This abstract aims to describe the results
of an emerging case series (n=4) using a similar approach.METHODS: Four amateur
runners (2 male, 2 female, age 27-45 years) were diagnosed as having plantar fasciitis.
In all cases, the failure of conservative management led to them being prescribed a
barefoot running intervention on grass. Patients were instructed to complete 10-15
minutes (dependent on pain tolerance) of barefoot running every second day and
record pain scores using the visual analog scale (VAS) every morning. RESULTS:
Mean pain intensity (scored out of 10) at the beginning of the intervention was 5.4
± 1.5 (range 3.5 - 7). After 6 sessions of barefoot running, mean pain intensity had
reduced to 2.0 ± 1.6 (range 2.0 - 4.0). All patients demonstrated an improvement in
pain intensity after 4-sessions. Three patients sustained this improvement up to session
6 and one patient reverted to their original pain score (4). The two female patients
demonstrated an immediate and sustained reduction in pain. The two male patients
initially remained unchanged or increased pain intensity before improving.
DISCUSSION: The results of this emerging case series suggest that this intervention
is at least well tolerated in runners with chronic plantar fasciitis. The fact that the
intervention contains the activity known to worsen symptoms may suggest this
approach has some promise. However, it is not possible to infer cause and effect from a
case series and the improvements shown in this series may be due to other factors such
as the passage of time or a reduction in fear avoidance behaviour.
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NewsBot · May 26, 2019

Efficacy of Bare foot Exercise Versus Common Footwear Exercise in Subjects with Plantar Fasciitis
Kamalakannan M., Dass D. Earnest Philemon
Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology 18 May, 2019.

The aim of the study is to determine the efficacy of barefoot exercise vs. common footwear exercise in subjects with plantar fasciitis. An objective of the study is to find the efficacy of barefoot exercise versus common footwear exercise on pain with numerical pain rating scale among subjects with plantar fasciitis and to find the efficacy of barefoot exercise versus common footwear exercise on balance outcome measure for elder rehabilitation (BOOMER) among subjects with plantar fasciitis. Methodology: 20 patients with plantar fasciitis were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The collected data were tabulated and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. To all parameters mean and standard deviation (SD) was used. Paired t-test was used to analyze significant changes within the groups. Unpaired t-test was used to analyze significant changes between the two groups. It has been concluded that barefoot exercise (GROUP A) is more effective than common footwear exercise (GROUP B) in decreasing pain, and increasing balance in subjects with plantar fasciitis.
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NewsBot · Dec 11, 2022

Barefoot Running on Grass as a Potential Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis: A Prospective Case Series
Stephen MacGabhann et al
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15466; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315466

Background: Foot characteristics and running biomechanics in shod populations are associated with the aetiology of plantar fasciitis, the most common musculoskeletal disease of the foot. Previous Case reports have demonstrated improvements in the symptoms of plantar fasciitis after a period of barefoot running on grass. Methods: Recreational runners with symptomatic plantar fasciitis were prospectively enrolled into a 6-week grass based barefoot running programme. Duration of symptoms, previous management and current pain scores (NRS, VAS) were recorded at entry. Daily pain scores were recorded during the 6-week period and 12 weeks from entry to the programme. Results: In total, 20 of 28 patients (71.4%) enrolled were included in the analysis. Relative to the entry point, pain at 6-weeks was lower (2.5 ± 1.4 vs. 3.9 ± 1.4, p < 0.001) and pain at the 12-week point was lower (1.5 (1.8), p = 0.002). 19 out of 20 patients had improved at week-6 (mean ± SD % change in pain score, −38.8 ± 21.5%) and at week-12 (median (IQR) % change in pain score, −58.3 (34.8) %). Conclusion: Barefoot running on grass improved pain associated with plantar fasciitis at the 6-week and 12-week follow up points. This type of barefoot running has the ability to improve symptoms whilst allowing patients to continue running, the intervention may also address some impairments of the foot associated with plantar fasciitis.
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NewsBot · Dec 27, 2023

Barefoot walking is beneficial for individuals with persistent plantar heel pain: A single-blind randomized controlled trial
Miriam Reinstein, Asaf Weisman, Youssef Masharawi
Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2023 Dec 19;67(2):101786

Background: A lack of data exist about the effectiveness of active treatments for persistent plantar heel pain (PPHP).

Objectives: To compare short-term functional and clinical effects of a 4-week barefoot or shod treadmill walking program for people with PPHP.

Methods: A single-blinded clinical trial randomized 52 participants with PPHP into either a barefoot walking group (BWG), or a shod walking group (SWG). All participants received therapeutic ultrasound. Outcomes were measured at baseline (t0), following 4 weeks of treatment (t1), and at 1-month follow-up (t2). The SF-36 functional questionnaire score was the main outcome. Secondary outcomes were self-reported and clinically-assessed pain provocation levels, pressure pain thresholds and pain tolerance. Treadmill walking time and speed were measured at t0 and t1; people also recorded the time spent walking each day in a diary.

Results: The BWG exhibited significant improvements in all SF-36 items (except "emotional well-being") (P < 0.05), whereas the SWG exhibited improvements only in "pain" and "health change" items (P = 0.0001; effect size 0.13-0.94). Greater improvements were observed in the BWG than the SWG for "physical function" (P = 0.019) and "role limitations due to physical health" items (P = 0.035). Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain, with greater improvements in the BWG (P = 0.0001; effect size 0.89). Only the BWG showed significant improvements in pain pressure thresholds (P < 0.05; effect size 0.70) and pain tolerance (P < 0.001; effect size 0.67). Both groups significantly increased their speed and time spent walking on the treadmill (BWG Δ=19.7 min and Δ=1.7 km/h; SWG Δ=16.7 min and Δ=1.1 km/h) and time outdoors (SWG ∆=38.2 min/week; BWG mean ∆=48.5 min/week) (P < 0.001). All clinical tests of pain were significantly less positive in the BWG at all time points (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Both walking programs benefited people with PPHP by alleviating pain and improving function and quality of life. Greater improvements were observed in the BWG than the SWG overall.
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