One-Year Trajectory of Pain, Function, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Plantar Fasciopathy

Plantar fasciopathy is the most common painful condition in the foot and may imply long-term pain and functional limitations. The purpose of this study was to assess the time pattern of recovery in pain, function, and health-related quality of life over 12 months in patients with plantar fasciopathy and assess whether demographic or clinical characteristics could influence these trajectories.

200 participants referred to specialized care, diagnosed with plantar fasciopathy, and randomly assigned to advice plus customized orthosis or advice plus customized orthosis in combination with radial ESWT, sham-rESWT, or high-load exercises were included. Linear mixed model analysis based on demographic information, clinical characteristics, heel pain during activity and at rest the last week, and functioning and health-related quality at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months were conducted.

Pain, function, and health-related quality of life improved gradually from baseline to 12 months follow-up with largest improvement within the first 3 months. Bilateral pain was associated with differential trajectories of pain at rest and foot function over time, and a lack of improvement from 6 to 12 months follow-up.

Different recovery trajectories are important to consider when determining timepoints for follow-up in scientific studies as well as to individualize the clinical follow-up.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03472989.