Barefoot walking is beneficial for individuals with persistent plantar heel pain: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the short-term functional and clinical effects of a 4-week barefoot versus shod treadmill walking program for individuals with persistent plantar heel pain (PPHP).
Results Summary
Both walking programs improved pain, function, and quality of life, with the barefoot group showing greater improvements in physical function, role limitations, pain pressure thresholds, and pain tolerance. Both groups increased walking speed, time spent walking, and time outdoors.
Population
52 participants with persistent plantar heel pain (PPHP).
Effective Dosage
4-week treadmill walking program (barefoot or shod).
Duration
4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
barefoot walking program | increase | all SF-36 items (except "emotional well-being") | people with PPHP | P < 0.05 | exhibited significant improvements | #1 |
shod walking program | increase | "pain" and "health change" items | people with PPHP | P = 0.0001; effect size 0.13-0.94 | exhibited improvements | #2 |
barefoot walking program | increase | "physical function" | people with PPHP | P = 0.019 | greater improvements | #3 |
barefoot walking program | increase | "role limitations due to physical health" items | people with PPHP | P = 0.035 | greater improvements | #4 |
barefoot walking program | decrease | pain | people with PPHP | P = 0.0001; effect size 0.89 | demonstrated significant improvements | #5 |
shod walking program | decrease | pain | people with PPHP | - | demonstrated significant improvements | #6 |
barefoot walking program | increase | pain pressure thresholds | people with PPHP | P < 0.05; effect size 0.70 | showed significant improvements | #7 |
barefoot walking program | increase | pain tolerance | people with PPHP | P < 0.001; effect size 0.67 | showed significant improvements | #8 |
barefoot walking program | increase | speed and time spent walking on the treadmill | people with PPHP | Δ=19.7 min and Δ=1.7 km/h | significantly increased | #9 |
shod walking program | increase | speed and time spent walking on the treadmill | people with PPHP | Δ=16.7 min and Δ=1.1 km/h | significantly increased | #10 |
shod walking program | increase | time outdoors | people with PPHP | ∆=38.2 min/week | significantly increased | #11 |
barefoot walking program | increase | time outdoors | people with PPHP | mean ∆=48.5 min/week | significantly increased | #12 |
barefoot walking program | decrease | all clinical tests of pain | people with PPHP | P < 0.05 | were significantly less positive | #13 |
BACKGROUND: A lack of data exist about the effectiveness of active treatments for persistent plantar heel pain (PPHP). OBJECTIVES: To compare short-term functional and clinical effects of a 4-week barefoot or shod treadmill walking program for people with PPHP. METHODS: A single-blinded clinical trial randomized 52 participants with PPHP into either a barefoot walking group (BWG), or a shod walking group (SWG). All participants received therapeutic ultrasound. Outcomes were measured at baseline (t RESULTS: The BWG exhibited significant improvements in all SF-36 items (except "emotional well-being") (P < 0.05), whereas the SWG exhibited improvements only in "pain" and "health change" items (P = 0.0001; effect size 0.13-0.94). Greater improvements were observed in the BWG than the SWG for "physical function" (P = 0.019) and "role limitations due to physical health" items (P = 0.035). Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain, with greater improvements in the BWG (P = 0.0001; effect size 0.89). Only the BWG showed significant improvements in pain pressure thresholds (P < 0.05; effect size 0.70) and pain tolerance (P < 0.001; effect size 0.67). Both groups significantly increased their speed and time spent walking on the treadmill (BWG Δ=19.7 min and Δ=1.7 km/h; SWG Δ=16.7 min and Δ=1.1 km/h) and time outdoors (SWG ∆=38.2 min/week; BWG mean ∆=48.5 min/week) (P < 0.001). All clinical tests of pain were significantly less positive in the BWG at all time points (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both walking programs benefited people with PPHP by alleviating pain and improving function and quality of life. Greater improvements were observed in the BWG than the SWG overall.