The Effect of Dry Needling on Pain, Range of Motion of Ankle Joint, and Ultrasonographic Changes of Plantar Fascia in Patients With Plantar Fasciitis

Abstract

CONTEXT: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common and devastating disease. Despite different treatments, there is no clear evidence for the effect of these treatments on PF. One of the therapy methods used in physiotherapy is dry needling (DN). So the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of DN on the pain and range of motion of the ankle joint and plantar fascia thickness in subjects with PF who are suffering from the trigger points of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. METHODS: In this study, 20 volunteer females with PF were randomly assigned into DN treatment and control groups. Measurements were range of motion in dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, plantar fascia thickness, and visual analog scale measured before, immediately, and 1 month after the end of the intervention in both groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the plantar fascia thickness and visual analog scale between the 2 groups. Plantar fascia thickness (P = .016) and visual analog scale (P = .03) significantly decreased in the treatment group. However, there was no significant difference in plantar flexion (P = .582) and dorsiflexion range of motion (P = .173) between groups. CONCLUSION: The result of this study showed that DN can reduce pain and plantar fascia thickness in women with PF who are suffering from trigger points of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1, randomized controlled trial.