Effects of Neural Gliding Addes to ESWT and Standard Exercise in Plantar Fasciitis (NG-PF)

June 17, 2026 updated by: Bihter Aslanyurek, Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

Investigation of the Effects of Neural Gliding Exercises Added to Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Standard Exercise Treatment in Individuals With Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain and may lead to pain, decreased foot function, impaired balance, and reduced quality of life. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy and exercise therapy are commonly used conservative treatment approaches. This randomized controlled study aims to investigate the additional effects of neural gliding exercises when combined with extracorporeal shock wave therapy and standard exercise treatment in individuals with plantar fasciitis.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effects of neural gliding exercises added to extracorporeal shock wave therapy and standard exercise treatment in individuals with plantar fasciitis. A total of 56 participants diagnosed with plantar fasciitis were included in the study and randomly assigned into two groups.

The first group received extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with a standard exercise program. The second group received extracorporeal shock wave therapy, the same standard exercise program, and additional neural gliding exercises.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy was applied once weekly for five weeks, with 2000 impulses per session. Participants were instructed to perform their home exercise program twice daily for five weeks.

Outcome measures included pain intensity, foot function, muscle flexibility, balance performance, walking-related functional performance, muscle strength, heel raise performance, and physical activity level. Assessments were performed before and after the intervention period.

The aim of this study was to determine whether adding neural gliding exercises to conventional treatment provides additional clinical benefit in individuals with plantar fasciitis.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

56

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

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Ankara
      • Ankara, Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye), 06010
        • University of Health Sciences Gulhane Training and Research Hospital

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:

  • Diagnosed with plantar fasciitis
  • Aged between 18 and 60 years
  • Male or female participants
  • Willing to participate voluntarily in the study
  • Able to comply with treatment and evaluation procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lack of cooperation or inability to follow instructions
  • Presence of systemic or metabolic disease
  • Malignancy, osteoporosis, fracture, coagulation disorders, active infection, or pacemaker implantation
  • Pregnancy
  • Receiving any other treatment for plantar fasciitis during the study period
  • Having received treatment for plantar fasciitis within the last 6 months

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: ESWT + Standart Exercise
Participants received extracorporeal shock wave therapy once weekly for 5 weeks (2000 pulses/session) in addition to a standard home exercise performed twice daily for 5 weeks.
Device: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy was applied once weekly for 5 weeks, with 2000 pulses per session.
Behavioral: Standard Exercise Program
Participants performed a standardized home exercise program twice daily for 5 weeks, 10 repetitions for each exercise session.
Experimental: ESWT + Standard Exercise + Neural Gliding
Participants received extracorporeal shock wave therapy once weekly for 5 weeks (2000 pulse/sessions), a standard home exercise program twice daily and additional neural gliding exercise for 5 weeks.
Device: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy was applied once weekly for 5 weeks, with 2000 pulses per session.
Behavioral: Standard Exercise Program
Participants performed a standardized home exercise program twice daily for 5 weeks, 10 repetitions for each exercise session.
Behavioral: Neural Gliding Exercises
Participants performed neural gliding exercises as an adjunct to the standard exercise program for 5 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Intensity (Visual Analog Scale, VAS)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 5
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before treatment and after 5 weeks of invertion.
Baseline and Week 5
Foot Function Index (FFI)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 5
Foot related pain, disabilitya and activity limitation will be evaluated using the Foot Function Index before treatment and after 5 weeks.
Baseline and Week 5

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Muscle Shortness Assessment
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 5
Baseline and Week 5
Single Leg Stance Test
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 5
Baseline and Week 5
Heel Raise Test
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 5
Baseline and Week 5
One Step Walking Test
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 5
Baseline and Week 5
Muscle Strength Assessment
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 5
Baseline and Week 5
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 5
Baseline and Week 5

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

Collaborators

Gulhane Training and Research Hospital

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.

General Publications

  • Yıldız B., Akınoğlu B. Effectiveness of neural gliding exercises combined with extracorporeal shock wave therapy and standad exercise program in individuals with plantar fasciitis: randomized controlled trial protocol. Ankara, Turkiye, 2026.

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)

December 26, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 26, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

December 26, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 17, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 17, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AYBU-PF-2026-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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