Foot exercise plus education versus brief advice for the treatment of plantar heel pain (FEET Trial): a feasibility randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Despite foot muscle strengthening being a target of exercise interventions for plantar heel pain (PHP) no study has measured foot muscle outcomes, and existing research is limited by a lack of control (no treatment) comparisons.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial and investigate the acceptability and credibility of comprehensive progressive foot exercise and education compared to brief advice for PHP.

DESIGN

Randomised parallel group feasibility trial.

METHOD: People with PHP were randomised (1:1 concealed allocation) to receive either foot exercise plus education or brief advice for twelve weeks. Primary outcomes included willingness to enrol, recruitment rate, adherence, logbook completion, dropout rate, early withdrawal reasons, adverse events, additional treatments sought, and credibility/expectancy.

RESULTS

Twenty people with PHP (16 women; age 50 ± 9 years; body mass index = 30.7 ± 4.6 kg/m2) were recruited over 15 weeks (1.3 participants per week). Primary outcomes were willingness to enrol (80%), adherence (physiotherapy sessions attended: foot exercise plus education 85%, brief advice 100%; home exercise program: 62% daily sessions completed, 72% thrice weekly sessions completed), logbook completion (foot exercise plus education 75%, brief advice 90%), dropout rate (15%), and additional treatments sought (69%). There were no intervention-related adverse events, and credibility scores were higher for foot exercise plus education.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms feasibility and acceptability of a protocol comparing foot exercise plus education with brief advice in individuals with PHP, generating key insights to inform future trial design.