Effects of Short-term Treatment with Kinesiotaping for Plantar Fasciitis

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of kinesiotaping on plantar fasciitis. Methods: A total of 52 patients with plantar fasciitis were randomly and equally divided into two groups. The patients in the control group received only a traditional physical therapy program daily, including ultrasound thermotherapy and low-frequency electrotherapy. The patients in the experimental group received kinesiotaping in addition to the same physical therapy program as the control group. The tape for kinesiotaping was applied on the gastrocnemius and the plantar fascia continuously for one week. For each patient, the therapeutic effects were measured with subjective pain assessment [pain description scores and foot function scores] and ultrasonographic assessment [measuring plantar fascia thickness and structural change]. The investigators who performed the assessment were blinded as to the group assignment of the subject. Results: The reduced pain scores [pain description scores and foot function scores] and the reduced thickness of plantar fascia at the insertion site [ultrasound assessment] after treatment were significantly [p < 0.05] more in the experimental group than in the control group. However, there were no significant [p > 0.05] differences in the changes of plantar fascia thickness at the site 0.5 cm distal to the insertion site and hypoechoic phenomena. Conclusions: It was concluded that the additional treatment with continuous kinesiotaping for one week might alleviate the pain of plantar fasciitis better than a traditional physical therapy program only.