High-intensity laser versus high-power pain-threshold ultrasound for plantar fasciitis

High Intensity Laser Versus High Power Pain Threshold Ultrasound in Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

This test compares high-intensity laser and high-power pain-threshold ultrasound to see which reduces heel pain and improves range of motion in adults with plantar fasciitis.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 30 Years to 60 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Cairo University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 2 sites (Banhā and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07462169 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults aged 30–60 with plantar heel pain and tenderness at the plantar fascia insertion are enrolled and receive either high-intensity laser therapy (HILT), high-power pain-threshold therapeutic ultrasound (HPPTUS), or conventional treatment in an outpatient physical therapy setting. Pain intensity and ankle/foot range of motion (ROM) are measured before and after a defined course of therapy to compare clinical effects. The interventions are noninvasive and delivered by trained clinicians, and patients with recent foot surgery, infections, neurological causes of referred pain, or recent corticosteroid injection are excluded. Primary outcomes are change in pain level and ROM following the treatment course.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 30–60 years old with at least one month of plantar heel pain that is worst with the first steps in the morning, tenderness at the plantar fascia insertion on the calcaneus, and a BMI below 30 kg/m2.

Not a fit: Patients with fractures, wounds or infections at the treatment area, recent foot trauma or surgery, sciatica or other neurological referred pain, or corticosteroid injection in the past six months are excluded and unlikely to benefit from the trial interventions.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the better-performing modality could provide a more effective noninvasive option to reduce heel pain and improve walking and daily function.

How similar studies have performed: Smaller trials and case series have reported pain and ROM improvements with both HILT and higher‑intensity therapeutic ultrasound, but direct head‑to‑head comparisons for plantar fasciitis remain limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. The patient age ranged from 30 to 60 years.
2. Plantar heel pain lasting for at least one month, mainly during the first few steps upon rising in the morning, which worsens with increased weight-bearing activity through the day.
3. Tenderness at the insertion site of the plantar fascia on the calcaneus.
4. Body mass index (MBI) \<30 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Medical red flag history (such as tumor, fracture, heterotrophic ossification, and acute inflammatory disease in the ankle-foot area.
2. If the patient has history of recent trauma or foot surgery.
3. Wounds, infections in the treatment area.
4. Subjects with referred pain from sciatica and other neurological disorders.
5. History of corticosteroid injection in the last 6 months.

Where this trial is running

Banhā and 1 other locations

• Outpatient clinic of Faculty of Physical Therapy Benha National University. — Banhā, Egypt (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Faculty of Physical Therapy Benha National University. — Cairo, Egypt (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Sara K Ghoneem, Master degree

Conditions Plantar Fasciitis; High power pain Threshold Ultrasound; High Intensity Laser therapy; plantar fasciitis; HILT