| 1 | Ajimsha et al., 2014 / RCT / India [23] | 65 patients aged 20 to 60 years. (17 men and 48 women). The main complaint is unilateral plantar heel pain. | MFRG n = 33. CG n = 32. | MFRG: 5 myofascial release techniques. CG: Sham ultrasound therapy applied to the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantar fascia in the same areas. Intervention: 30 minutes, 3 times per week for 4 weeks (weeks 1 to 4). | Pain: PPT measured with a mechanical pressure algometer (Baseline, FPK 20). Functionality: FFI, a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 23 items assessing pain, disability, and activity limitation. Measurements were performed at week 1 (pre-intervention score), week 4 (post-intervention score), and follow-up at week 12 after randomization. | Pain: Significant group-by-time interactions were observed for changes in PPT measured in kg/cm² (F = 23.406; p < 0.001) and sole (F = 22.232; p < 0.001), and over the calcaneus (F = 16.641; p < 0.001). The MFRG showed greater increases in PPT than the control group (p < 0.01). Functionality: The MFRG showed significantly greater improvement than the CG at weeks 4 and 12 (p < 0.001), but there were no between-group differences at baseline (p < 0.533). For the 95% CI, the differences were: on day 12, 0.621 to 1.321; at 4 weeks, 5.160 to 8.465; and at 12 weeks, 2.529 to 5.971. | Pain: PPT measured at three points showed a substantial effect in favor of the MFRG at both 4 and 12 weeks from baseline, with Cohen’s d values ranging from d = 0.874 to d = 1.32. Functionality: The mean difference in FFI between the CG and MFRG was 6.813 at week 4 (baseline score) and 4.250 at week 12 (post-intervention score). |
| 2 | Grim et al., 2019 / RCT / Germany [25] | 63 patients (44 women, 19 men). Clinical diagnosis of PF with symptoms < 6 months. Older than 18 years. | MT group. CFO group. CT group. | MT: Joint mobilizations at the talocrural joint for dorsiflexion, subtalar joint for eversion and inversion, and the transverse tarsal joint for pronation and supination. CFO: custom foot orthosis made of vinyl acetate foam using a computer-assisted process. Intervention: MT was administered twice during the first week and once per week for the remaining 3 months. | Pain: AOFAS-AHS scored from 0 to 100, including subjective pain (40%) and function (60%) components. Higher scores indicate better outcomes. Functionality: FPDFS with an 11-point NRS from 0 to 10. Physical examination was performed at baseline (T0) and at follow-up sessions at 1, 2, and 3 months (T1 to T3). | Pain: The AOFAS-AHS showed greater improvement in the MT group (p < 0.01). Functionality: The FPDFS showed significantly greater improvement in the MT group (p < 0.01) than in the other groups. | Pain: Differences in AOFAS-AHS from T0 to T3 for the MT group, CFO group, and CT group were 35% (“considerable improvement”), 15% (“minimal improvement”), and 21% (“improvement”), respectively. Functionality: Changes corresponding to the FPDFS were 37% (“considerable improvement”), 18% (“minimal improvement”), and 24% (“improvement”), respectively. |
| 3 | Jadhav et al., 2023 / RCT / India [25] | 36 subjects (12 men and 24 women). Subjects diagnosed clinically with plantar fasciitis. Aged 20 to 60 years. | GS group n = 12. CS group n = 12. PRT group n = 12. | GS: Using a jade stone and lubricant, unidirectional pressure movements were applied sequentially. CS: a frozen tennis ball was rolled over the plantar arch (20 repetitions every 2 minutes). PRT: pressure release technique over the sensitive point at the fingertip. Intervention: 7 consecutive sessions over a 7-day period, together with exercises. | Pain: NPRS using an 11-point numeric scale (format similar to a visual analog scale). PPT was measured with a pressure algometer. Functionality: FFI, measured through three subscales: pain, disability, and activity limitation. Measurements were performed before and after the intervention. | Pain: All three groups showed significant improvements in pain, disability, and function/PPT (p < 0.001). The GS group performed significantly better than the CS group (p < 0.001) and the PRT group (p < 0.001) for pain intensity. The PRT group was significantly superior to the GS group (p < 0.001) and the CS group (p < 0.001) regarding PPT outcomes. Functionality: The CS group was significantly better than the GS group (p < 0.001) and the PRT group (p < 0.001) for FFI disability assessment. | Pain: NPRS showed an ES favoring the GS group over the PRT group (d = 1.16). For PPT, the ES was d = 0.67 between the GS and PRT groups, favoring the PRT group. Functionality: For FFI, the ES was d = 0.14 in favor of the CS group compared with the GS group. |
| 4 | Akter et al., 2024 / RCT / Bangladesh [26] | 64 patients (most were women). Diagnosis of heel pain, plantar fasciitis, or calcaneal spur. Pain lasting more than 4 weeks. Ages between 30 and 60 years. | MFR group n = 32. SDMA group n = 32. | MFR: myofascial release of the plantar fascia and perifascial structures in the supine position using 3 maneuvers of 5 to 7 repetitions, held for 30 seconds, progressively. SDMA: combined myofascial release with stretching of the gastrocnemius muscles; additionally, tensioning of the plantar arch with passive stretching of the posterior femoral, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, superficial peroneal, and tibial nerves was added. Intervention: 30-minute sessions, 3 times per week. | Pain: FFI, a 17-item index with 5 pain items. Functionality: FFI, a 12-item index for painful activities. FADI is a 26-item questionnaire with 22 items related to functional difficulty and 4 related to pain. Baseline data were collected before treatment and reassessed after 12 treatment sessions in the hospital. | Pain: The SDMA group was superior to the MFR group, with statistically significant differences in FFI pain scores (p < 0.01). Functionality: The SDMA group was significantly better than the MFR group for FFI activity limitation (p < 0.01), FFI disability (p < 0.01), and FADI (p < 0.01). | Pain: Not reported. Functionality: Not reported. |
