An interventional study of Barefoot Walking Programme and Standardised Conservative Care in Plantar Fasciopathy, Plantar Fasciitis and Plantar Fasciitis, Chronic, sponsored by Elisabetta Brigo. Recruiting at 1 site in Ireland. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-22.
Sponsored by Elisabetta Brigo · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a barefoot walking programme can treat plantar fasciopathy (heel pain) in adults aged 18-70. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Researchers will compare a barefoot walking programme to a standardised stretching and strengthening programme to see if barefoot walking is an effective conservative management approach for plantar fasciopathy.
Participants will:
267 studies on the registry are indexed under Fasciitis, Plantar; 70 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 74 is above the median of 56 across 233 interventional studies indexed under Fasciitis, Plantar.
Browse Fasciitis, Plantar studies →This is the only study on the registry with Elisabetta Brigo as lead sponsor.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants allocated to this arm will follow a structured 12-week progressive barefoot walking programme on grass completed at home. The programme involves gradually increasing the duration and frequency of barefoot walking on grass. Participants will receive education on plantar fasciopathy, load management principles, and guidance on how to progress the programme safely. Adherence and symptom response will be monitored through weekly short questionnaires.
Behavioral: Barefoot Walking Programme
Participants allocated to this arm will follow a structured 12-week standardised stretching and strengthening programme completed at home. The programme includes plantar fascia and calf stretching exercises alongside progressive foot and lower limb strengthening exercises. Participants will receive education on plantar fasciopathy and load management principles. Adherence and symptom response will be monitored through weekly short questionnaires.
Behavioral: Standardised Conservative Care
A structured 12-week progressive home-based barefoot walking programme on grass for adults with plantar fasciopathy. Participants gradually increase the duration and frequency of barefoot walking over the 12-week period. Education on plantar fasciopathy and load management principles is provided. Adherence and symptom response are monitored via weekly questionnaires.
Also known as: Barefoot walking, Barefoot locomotion
A structured 12-week standardised home-based stretching and strengthening programme for adults with plantar fasciopathy. The programme includes plantar fascia and calf stretching alongside progressive foot and lower limb strengthening exercises. Education on plantar fasciopathy and load management principles is provided. Adherence and symptom response are monitored via weekly questionnaires
Also known as: Plantar fascia stretching, Calf stretching, Foot strengthening exercises, Instrinsic Foot Muscle Strengthening
First-Step Pain
Changes in average first-step morning pain over the last 7 days measured with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain.
Time frame: From the baseline assessment (Week 0) until end of intervention (Week 12)
Function
Changes in foot function measured with the Foot Function Index (FFI). Higher scores indicate worse function.
Time frame: From baseline (Week 0) until the end of intervention (Week 12)
Adherence
Percentage of prescribed home exercise sessions completed, recorded via participant self-report log throughout the 12-week intervention period.
Time frame: Weekly during the 12-week intervention period.
Cost-Effectiveness (Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio)
Incremental cost per unit of clinical improvement between groups, expressed as cost per 1-point improvement in pain (NPRS) and cost per 10% improvement in foot function (FFI). Total costs will include healthcare utilisation and participant out-of-pocket expenses. Two separate ICERs will be calculated.
Time frame: At week 12 and at 6 months post-intervention (week 36).
Adverse Events
Any training-related injuries, falls, skin injuries, or symptom exacerbations reported by participants throughout the study period, recorded via weekly questionnaires and follow-up surveys.
Time frame: Throughout the 12-week intervention and at 2, 4, and 6 months post-intervention.
Plan to share: No
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