Active Release Technique vs. Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization for Plantar Pain

October 29, 2026 updated by: Nosheen Manzoor, University of Management and Technology Lahore

Comparison of Active Release Technique Versus Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization on Pain, Range of Motion, Functional Outcomes and Disability in Subjects With Plantar

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain encountered in musculoskeletal and orthopedic physiotherapy practice. It is characterized by degenerative changes at the origin of the plantar fascia on the medial calcaneal tubercle, leading to pain, stiffness, and functional limitations during weight-bearing activities. Patients typically report sharp heel pain that is most severe during the first steps in the morning or after prolonged rest, which significantly affects gait and daily functional activities.Current evidence suggests that plantar fasciitis is not purely an inflammatory condition but rather a degenerative fasciopathy resulting from repetitive microtrauma, abnormal foot biomechanics, prolonged standing, obesity, and tightness of the gastrosoleus complex. These mechanical stressors lead to microtears, collagen degeneration, and thickening of the plantar fascia, ultimately resulting in chronic pain and disability.Objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Active Release Technique and Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization on pain, function, and disability in patients with plantar fasciitis. All the subjects who will eligible for the criteria will randomly allocated in to Group A(ART) and Group B(DSTM).Taping will be our baseline treatment.. This study will be a randomized controlled trial conducted at Pro Care Physiotherapy Clinic, Ittefaq Hospital, and Iffat Anwar Medical Complex over a period of four months. A total of 62 participants will be recruited using probability convenient sampling and randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive Active Release Technique along with baseline taping, while Group B will receive Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization along with baseline taping. Both groups will receive three sessions per week for four weeks.Outcome measures will include the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Foot Function Index (FFI) to assess pain and functional disability. Assessments will be taken at baseline, 2nd week, and 4th week. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 24, and both intra-group and inter-group comparisons will be performed using appropriate statistical tests.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
70

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54000
        • University of Management & Technology

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

25 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 25 to 60 years. Presence of unilateral plantar fasciitis. Participants with positive Windlass test. Symptoms more than 6 weeks of duration diagnosed by orthopaedician. Reported pain with the first step out of the bed in the morning or with the first step after prolonged immobilization and presence of heel pain with prolonged standing on the medial calcaneal tubercle plantar aponeurosis confirmed by palpation. both male and female will be included. Pain intensity of ≥3 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS).

Participants willing to provide informed consent and comply with the treatment protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

Reported previous history of cancer, peripheral vascular diseases, lower extremity fractures Had a trauma or history of surgery to the foot or ankle. Diabetic neuropathy. People who have undergone steroid therapy, platelet rich plasma therapy in the past 3 months.

Severe foot deformities (e.g., severe pes planus or pes cavus) requiring specialized management.

Open wounds, skin infections, or allergies preventing the application of taping.

Presence of inflammatory or systemic diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, or Gout.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Active Release Technique (ART)

The patient will sit in a long-sitting position while the therapist assesses muscle and fascial tightness using their hands. The therapist applies specific pressure along the affected tissue from origin to insertion while the muscle is shortened. The patient is then instructed to lengthen the muscle by dorsiflexing the foot. Each session lasts approximately 10 minutes, three times a week for four weeks, along with baseline taping.
Other: Active Release Technique (ART)

The patient will sit in a long-sitting position while the therapist assesses muscle and fascial tightness using their hands. The therapist applies specific pressure along the affected tissue from origin to insertion while the muscle is shortened. The patient is then instructed to lengthen the muscle by dorsiflexing the foot. Each session lasts approximately 10 minutes, three times a week for four weeks, along with baseline taping.
Active Comparator: Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization

The therapist will perform 10 minutes of deep, forceful soft tissue mobilization on tight and painful areas of the posterior calf muscles, applying pressure across the muscle fibers medially and laterally. The patient will also perform a passive straight leg raise combined with ankle dorsiflexion using a long belt to improve neural mobility.
Other: Dynamic Soft Tissue Mobilization

The therapist will perform 10 minutes of deep, forceful soft tissue mobilization on tight and painful areas of the posterior calf muscles, applying pressure across the muscle fibers medially and laterally. The patient will also perform a passive straight leg raise combined with ankle dorsiflexion using a long belt to improve neural mobility.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain by Numerical Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time Frame: At baseline and after 6 weeks

Numeric Rating Scale (NPRS) is most frequently used instruments to measure pain. The 11-point numeric with 0 representing No pain, 1- 3 representing Mild Pain (nagging, annoying, interfering little with ADLs), 4-6 representing Moderate Pains

(interferes significantly with ADLs), 7-10 representing Sever Pain (disabling, unable to perform ADLs).
At baseline and after 6 weeks
Disability by Foot Function Index (FFI)
Time Frame: At baseline and after 6 weeks

The Foot Function Index (FFI) is a widely used patient-reported outcome measure developed to assess the impact of foot pathology on pain, disability, and activity limitation.The questionnaire consists of 23 items divided into three subscales: Pain (9 items), Disability (9 items), and Activity Limitation (5 items). The questions assess foot pain severity and the extent to which foot problems affect daily functional activities such as walking, standing, climbing stairs, and participation in routine activities.
At baseline and after 6 weeks
Joint Range of Motion by Goniometer
Time Frame: At baseline and after 6 weeks

The patient's knee will be flexed to 30°, with the ankle in the anatomical position. The goniometer axis will be placed near the lateral ankle, with the stationary arm aligned along the fibula and the movable arm along the fifth metatarsal. The examiner will measure both passive and active ankle dorsiflexion using a goniometer. The normal range of ankle dorsiflexion is approximately 15°-20°.
At baseline and after 6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Management and Technology Lahore

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 29, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 29, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 29, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • RE-207-2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The results data collected , de-identified individual participant data will be shared.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

6 months after the publication of the manuscript.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The data can be requested from the corresponding author.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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