Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy With or Without Kinesiotaping for Plantar Fasciitis

This study aims to evaluate and compare the short- and mid-term effects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) alone versus a combination of ESWT and Kinesio Taping (KT) on pain, foot functionality, and plantar fascia thickness in patients with plantar fasciitis. A total of 48 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis will be included in this prospective, randomized controlled trial and randomly allocated into two groups: the ESWT group and the ESWT + Kinesio Taping group. Primary outcome measures include pain severity assessed via the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for morning and general pain, foot functionality evaluated using the Foot Function Index (FFI), and plantar fascia thickness measured via ultrasonography. Evaluations will be conducted at baseline, immediately post-treatment, and at the 3-month follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria: Age between 18 and 65 years Chronic heel pain for at least 3 months Localized pain and tenderness on palpation at the medial aspect of the calcaneal tuberosity with the ankle in full dorsiflexion Pain intensity of 50 mm or greater on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during the first step in the morning Ultrasonographic findings typical of plantar fasciitis (proximal plantar fascia thickness greater than 4 mm with alterations in the fibrillar pattern) Willingness to participate in the study and provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Presence of any skin lesions or integrity disruption in the heel region History of inflammatory or rheumatic arthritis History of fracture, trauma, or surgery in the heel region Presence of systemic infection or malignancy Presence of a cardiac pacemaker Local injection into the heel region within the last 6 months, or use of topical or oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) within the last 2 weeks Unwillingness to participate in the study