Clinical bedside tests to detect plantar fasciopathy
Sensitivity and Tests for Evaluation of Plantar Fasciopathy
NA · Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli · NCT07567807
This trial will test whether simple bedside exams (Gastroc sign, Silfverskiöld test, and tenderness at the medial calcaneal tuberosity) can reliably identify plantar fasciopathy in adults with chronic heel pain compared with people without recent foot problems.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 45 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Bologna, BO) |
| Trial ID | NCT07567807 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The study enrolls adults with recalcitrant plantar fasciopathy scheduled for surgical treatment and a control group of adults without recent foot or ankle pathology. Participants undergo a series of clinical bedside tests including the Gastroc sign, Silfverskiöld test, and palpation for tenderness at the medial calcaneal tuberosity, with prior MRI and EMG used to exclude alternate diagnoses. The aim is to compare the bedside test results to the clinical/imaging workup to determine diagnostic accuracy and discriminatory value versus other causes of heel pain. Results could inform a simple, standardized clinical approach to distinguish plantar fasciopathy from other heel pain etiologies.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults over 18 with chronic (≥12 months) plantar heel pain refractory to conservative care who are on the surgical waiting list, and adult controls without foot problems in the prior year.
Not a fit: Patients under 18, those with diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, active rheumatologic disease on treatment, pregnancy, or other local foot pathology on MRI or positive tarsal tunnel EMG are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this diagnostic approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could use quick bedside tests to more accurately diagnose plantar fasciopathy, potentially reducing reliance on imaging and speeding appropriate treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked gastrocnemius tightness to plantar fasciopathy, but a single standardized bedside test with validated diagnostic accuracy for PF has not been widely established, so this application is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * PF group: * Patients on the waiting list at Clinic I of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute for surgical intervention with a diagnosis of recalcitrant PF lasting at least 12 months * Age \>18 years * MRI of the foot and ankle negative for other local causes of pain included in the differential diagnosis of PF * Negative electromyography for tarsal tunnel syndrome * Control group: * Age \>18 years * Outpatients followed at Clinic I for conditions unrelated to the foot and ankle, with no clinical history of foot pain or pathology in the preceding 12 months Exclusion Criteria: * PF and control groups: * Minor patients * Patients with diagnosed rheumatologic diseases currently under pharmacological treatment * Patients with diabetes or diabetic neuropathy * Pregnant women
Where this trial is running
Bologna, BO
- IRCCS Istituto ortopedico Rizzoli — Bologna, BO, Italy (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Simone Ottavio Zielli, MD — IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
- Study coordinator: Simone Ottavio Zielli, MD
- Email: simoneottavio.zielli@ior.it
- Phone: +393493858593
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Plantar Fasciitis, Chronic, plantar fasciopathy, Silfverskiöld test