Ice Packs Versus Cold Baths Combined With Standard Exercise Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

July 10, 2026 updated by: Ibadat International University, Islamabad

Comparative Efficacy of Ice Packs Versus Cold Baths With Standard Exercise Therapy in the Management of Plantar Fasciitis

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of ice pack therapy and cold bath immersion when combined with standard exercise therapy in adults with plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain that can limit daily activities and reduce quality of life. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either ice pack therapy or cold bath therapy in addition to the same standardized exercise program. The primary outcome will be pain intensity measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the secondary outcome will be foot function measured using the Foot Function Index (FFI). The findings of this study may help identify the more effective cryotherapy method for reducing pain and improving function in individuals with plantar fasciitis.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of plantar heel pain and is associated with functional limitations, reduced mobility, and impaired quality of life. Conservative management is considered the first-line treatment and typically includes therapeutic exercises, stretching, strengthening, patient education, and cryotherapy. Although cryotherapy is widely used to relieve pain and reduce tissue inflammation, there is limited evidence comparing the effectiveness of different cryotherapy modalities in patients with plantar fasciitis.

This study is a prospective, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial designed to compare the clinical effectiveness of ice pack application and cold bath immersion when both are combined with a standardized exercise therapy program.

Eligible adults diagnosed with plantar fasciitis will be randomly allocated into one of two intervention groups:

Group A: Ice pack therapy combined with standard exercise therapy. Group B: Cold bath immersion combined with standard exercise therapy.

Both groups will receive identical exercise therapy consisting of plantar fascia stretching, calf muscle stretching, eccentric heel raises, and balance training. Cryotherapy will be administered for 10 minutes per session, five sessions per week, for two weeks.

The primary outcome will be pain intensity measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The secondary outcome will be functional disability measured using the Foot Function Index (FFI). Outcome assessments will be performed at baseline and immediately after completion of the two-week intervention period.

The study hypothesizes that one cryotherapy modality may provide superior pain relief and functional improvement when combined with standard exercise therapy. The results are expected to provide evidence for selecting the most effective, low-cost, and easily applicable cryotherapy intervention for conservative management of plantar fasciitis and may contribute to evidence-based physiotherapy practice.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
      • Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
        • Recruiting
        • Shahab Orthopedic and General Hospital
        • Contact:

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
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 18 to 65 years.
  • Clinical diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral Plantar Fasciitis.
  • Heel pain localized to the medial calcaneal tubercle.
  • Positive Windlass test.
  • Pain intensity of ≥4 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at baseline.
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
  • Willing to comply with the study protocol and attend all treatment and assessment sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of foot or ankle surgery within the previous 6 months.
  • Corticosteroid injection for plantar fasciitis within the previous month.
  • Neurological disorders affecting the lower limb.
  • Peripheral vascular disease or other vascular disorders affecting the lower limb.
  • Open wounds, skin infections, or contraindications to cryotherapy.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Participation in another interventional clinical trial during the study period.
  • Inability to follow the study protocol or complete outcome assessments.

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: Ice Pack + Standard Exercise Therapy
Participants assigned to this arm will receive ice pack therapy in combination with a standardized exercise therapy program. Ice packs will be applied to the plantar aspect of the affected foot for 10 minutes per session, five sessions per week for two weeks. The exercise program includes plantar fascia stretching, calf muscle stretching, eccentric heel raises, and balance training.
Procedure: Ice Pack Therapy
Ice pack therapy will be administered by applying crushed ice or a commercial gel ice pack wrapped in a thin towel to the plantar aspect of the heel and medial longitudinal arch of the affected foot. The intervention will be applied for 10 minutes per session, five sessions per week for two weeks. Skin integrity will be assessed before and after treatment to minimize the risk of cold-related injury.
Procedure: Standard Exercise Therapy
All participants will receive the same standardized exercise therapy program consisting of plantar fascia stretching, gastrocnemius and soleus stretching, eccentric heel raises, and balance training. Supervised sessions will be conducted five times per week for two weeks, with participants instructed to continue home exercises on non-supervised days. The exercise program is identical for both intervention groups.
Experimental: Cold Bath + Standard Exercise Therapy
Participants assigned to this arm will receive cold bath immersion in combination with the same standardized exercise therapy program. The affected foot will be immersed in cold water maintained at 10-15°C for 10 minutes per session, five sessions per week for two weeks. The exercise program includes plantar fascia stretching, calf muscle stretching, eccentric heel raises, and balance training.
Procedure: Standard Exercise Therapy
All participants will receive the same standardized exercise therapy program consisting of plantar fascia stretching, gastrocnemius and soleus stretching, eccentric heel raises, and balance training. Supervised sessions will be conducted five times per week for two weeks, with participants instructed to continue home exercises on non-supervised days. The exercise program is identical for both intervention groups.
Procedure: Cold Water Immersion
Cold water immersion will be administered by immersing the affected foot up to the malleoli in water maintained at 10-15°C for 10 minutes per session, five sessions per week for two weeks. Water temperature will be monitored before each treatment session, and participants will be observed for discomfort or excessive numbness throughout the intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Intensity Measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Baseline and at the end of the 2-week intervention period
Pain intensity will be assessed using the 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Participants will rate heel pain experienced during the first steps in the morning and during daily activities. A reduction in the VAS score indicates improvement.
Baseline and at the end of the 2-week intervention period
Foot Function Measured by the Foot Function Index (FFI)
Time Frame: Baseline and at the end of the 2-week intervention period
Functional status will be evaluated using the Foot Function Index (FFI), a validated questionnaire that measures pain, disability, and activity limitation associated with foot disorders. Scores range from 0% to 100%, with lower scores indicating better foot function.
Baseline and at the end of the 2-week intervention period

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Ibadat International University, Islamabad

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Dr Zahid Mehmood, Ibadat 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)

February 17, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 6, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 7, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 10, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Ref: IIUI/RERC/ADT/2026/02/258

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be made publicly available because the study is an investigator-initiated academic research project, and participant confidentiality and privacy will be protected in accordance with institutional ethical requirements. De-identified aggregate data will be reported in publications and presentations. Requests for additional study information may be considered by the principal investigator and the institutional ethics committee, subject to applicable ethical and regulatory requirements.

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.

Subscribe