Calf Muscle Stretching for Plantar Heel Pain
Author Information
Author(s): Radford Joel A, Landorf Karl B, Buchbinder Rachelle, Cook Catherine
Primary Institution: University of Western Sydney
Hypothesis
Is calf muscle stretching an effective short-term treatment for plantar heel pain?
Conclusion
Calf muscle stretching for two weeks does not provide significant benefits for plantar heel pain compared to no stretching.
Supporting Evidence
- Both treatment groups improved over the two-week period.
- No statistically significant differences were found between the groups for any measured outcomes.
- Ten participants in the stretching group experienced mild to moderate adverse events.
Takeaway
Stretching your calf muscles for two weeks won't really help if your heel hurts when you stand up.
Methodology
Participants were randomly assigned to either calf muscle stretching with sham ultrasound or sham ultrasound only for two weeks.
Potential Biases
Participants were aware they were receiving a sham treatment, which may affect their responses.
Limitations
The study only examined one specific stretching technique and the short-term effects over two weeks.
Participant Demographics
Participants were primarily middle-aged, overweight, and spent a lot of time on their feet.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.138
Confidence Interval
95% CI -18.3 to 2.6
Statistical Significance
p=0.138
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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