Physiotherapy Management of Plantar Fasciitis: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain and can significantly impair daily activities and quality of life. Although various physiotherapy interventions have been widely used, evidence describing the effectiveness of multimodal approaches in real-world clinical settings remains limited.

Objective: To describe the clinical outcomes of a multimodal physiotherapy intervention in a patient with plantar fasciitis.

Methods: This case report describes a 42-year-old female with a 6-month history of right plantar fasciitis. The patient underwent three sessions of physiotherapy, including infrared therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and therapeutic ultrasound, combined with stretching and strengthening exercises. A home exercise program and patient education were also provided. Outcomes were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), ankle range of motion (ROM), Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), and the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI).

Results: Pain during movement decreased from 7/10 to 5/10, and tenderness decreased from 4/10 to 2/10. Ankle dorsiflexion improved from 30° to 35°. Functional ability increased from 79% to 80% based on FADI scores. Muscle strength improved from grade 4/5 to 5/5 in ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.

Discussion: The findings suggest that a multimodal physiotherapy approach may contribute to pain reduction and functional improvement in plantar fasciitis. However, the short duration of intervention may limit improvements in muscle strength. Further studies with longer intervention periods and larger samples are required.