Effect of Myofascial Release With and Without Taping in Patient With Heel Spur: (MFR-Taping)

May 14, 2026 updated by: Sehrish Shahzad, Green International University

Effect of Myofascial Release With and Without Taping in Patient With Heel Spur: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The current study is a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of myofascial release therapy used alone versus myofascial release combined with clinical taping for individuals with heel spurs. The trial aims to evaluate improvements in pain, foot function, and overall disability. Interventions will be delivered twice weekly for a specified duration. The primary outcome is pain reduction, while secondary outcomes include improved foot function and reduced disability. The hypothesis is that the combination of myofascial release and taping will result in significantly greater clinical improvements compared to myofascial release alone.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Heel spur is a common musculoskeletal condition often associated with chronic plantar heel pain and functional limitations. This study will evaluate the added value of clinical taping when used in conjunction with Myofascial Release (MFR) therapy. Combining these approaches may offer a complementary effect by addressing both the soft tissue restrictions through manual therapy and providing mechanical support and proprioceptive feedback via taping. The trial uses a randomized controlled design to compare two intervention groups. Participants diagnosed with heel spurs will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the comparison group. The experimental group will receive standardized Myofascial Release sessions focusing on the plantar fascia and posterior chain musculature, followed by the application of therapeutic taping. The comparison group will receive the Myofascial Release protocol alone. Both interventions will be provided for a set duration, with sessions occurring twice per week. The study aims to investigate whether the addition of taping results in greater improvements in pain intensity, foot function, and overall disability. Outcome measures, including pain scales and functional assessment tools, will be assessed at baseline and at the conclusion of the treatment period. The trial will be carried out at clinics in Lahore to ensure standardized procedures and consistent delivery across sessions.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

38

Phase

  • 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
        • Green International University

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 30-40 years
  • Both males and females
  • Clinically or radiographically confirmed heel spur
  • Pain intensity ≥ 3 on Visual Analog Scale
  • Symptom duration ≥ 4 weeks
  • Able to attend treatment sessions 3 times per week
  • Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous foot or heel surgery
  • Current physiotherapy treatment for heel pain
  • Neurological disorders (e.g., neuropathy, radiculopathy)
  • Systemic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, gout)
  • Severe musculoskeletal deformities of the foot
  • Open wounds, skin infection, or allergy to tape
  • Corticosteroid injection in the last 3 months
  • Pregnancy
  • Any medical condition preventing safe participation

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: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Myofascial Release with Clinical Taping
Participants in this arm will receive a combination of myofascial release therapy and clinical taping. Myofascial release will be applied to the plantar fascia and the posterior chain muscles. Following the manual therapy, clinical taping (such as Kinesiology tape or rigid tape, depending on your specific protocol) will be applied to the affected foot to provide mechanical support and proprioceptive feedback. Sessions will be conducted twice weekly.
Other: Myofascial Release with Clinical Taping
Participants will receive a 45-minute intervention session. The integrated components consist of manual myofascial release techniques followed by the application of clinical taping to the affected foot.
Other Names:
  • Group A Intervention
Active Comparator: Myofascial Release Alone
Participants in this arm will receive the standardized myofascial release protocol only. The therapy will target the plantar fascia and surrounding soft tissues to reduce restrictions and pain. No clinical taping or additional manual interventions will be applied. Sessions will be conducted twice weekly to match the frequency of the experimental group
Other: Myofascial Release Alone
Participants will receive the same 30 minutes of specialized myofascial release (MFR) manual therapy targeting the plantar fascia and calf musculature. No clinical taping will be applied. Sessions will be conducted twice weekly to ensure a consistent treatment frequency with the experimental group.
Other Names:
  • Group B Intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Intensity
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks post-intervention.
Pain intensity will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where participants mark their pain level on a 100mm line ranging from "no pain" (0) to "worst imaginable pain" (100). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Baseline and 4 weeks post-intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Foot Function
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
The FFI will be used to assess changes in foot related functional limitations. The FFI evaluates pain, disability, and activity restriction related to foot conditions. Scores range 0 to 100, with high scores indicating greater impairment. This outcome will determine the improvement in functional ability following 4 weeks of Myofascial Release with or without taping.
Baseline and 4 weeks
Disability level
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks
The Disability subscale of the Foot Function index will measure the degree to which heel pain affects daily activities, including walking, standing, and mobility tasks. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher values reflecting greater disability. This outcome will evaluate the reduction in functional disability after the intervention period.
Baseline and 4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Green International University

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)

April 6, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 29, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

May 6, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 9, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 9, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 14, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • GIU/REC/26-27

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Only IPD used in the results publication will be shared.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

It will be available after the completion of the study.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Through the corresponding author.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • CSR

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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