Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization for the Management of Chronic Plantar Heel Pain: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Physical Therapy
• Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
• Pain Management

Background:

• Chronic plantar heel pain (CPHP) significantly impacts quality of life.
• Conservative care is the standard treatment, but efficacy varies.
• Instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM) presents a potential alternative or adjunct therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the feasibility of a larger study investigating IASTM (Graston technique) for CPHP.
• To compare IASTM with conservative care for pain and function in CPHP patients.
• To assess recruitment, retention, and compliance for a future large-scale trial.

Main Methods:

• A pilot randomized controlled trial involving 11 participants with CPHP.
• Participants received up to eight physical therapy visits, including stretching and exercise.
• The experimental group additionally received IASTM (Graston technique).

Main Results:

• Both IASTM and conservative care groups showed improvements in pain and function.
• Medium-to-large effect sizes were observed between the groups.
• Sample size calculations indicated a need for at least 42 participants for a definitive study.

Conclusions:

• IASTM using the Graston technique is a feasible intervention for CPHP.
• Clinically important changes in the IASTM group suggest potential benefits.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the efficacy and meaningfulness of IASTM for CPHP.