Combination of Hip Strengthening and Manipulative Therapy for the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis: A Case Report

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case report is to describe the management of using a combination of hip strengthening and manipulative therapy (MT) for a patient with plantar fasciitis. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 44-year-old patient reported heel pain for approximately 1 year before treatment. The patient reported plantar heel pain and tenderness at the calcaneal tuberosity. The pain was most noticeable in the morning but was reduced after a 30-minute walk. A diagnosis of plantar fasciitis was made at the initial assessment. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOMES: Initially, a clinical evaluation was performed to measure pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale), pressure-pain threshold (algometry), and perceived exertion (OMNI Resistance Exercise Scale). The patient then underwent 10 sessions of hip strengthening and MT over a period of 3 months. After the treatment, the intensity of pain and the pressure-pain threshold was reevaluated. The patient reported an improvement in pain intensity (baseline score = 6 vs final score = 1) and an increase in the pressure-pain threshold (initial score = 2.6 vs final score = 7.1). Perceived exertion was also improved after hip muscle strength training (initial score = 10 vs final score = 8). CONCLUSION: The combination of hip strengthening and MT improved foot pain in a patient with a clinical diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.