An interventional study of Active Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) and Sham Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (Sham PEMF) in Calcaneal Spur, sponsored by Hatice Zehra FERHATLAR. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-05.
Sponsored by Hatice Zehra FERHATLAR · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This prospective, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy in patients with symptomatic plantar calcaneal spurs. A total of 100 participants will be randomly assigned to either an active PEMF group or a sham PEMF group in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups will receive a standardized stretching exercise program.
The primary outcome will be the change in morning first-step pain intensity. Secondary outcomes will include foot function assessed using the Foot Function Index (FFI), plantar fascia thickness measured by ultrasonography, and pressure pain threshold measured using an algometer. Assessments will be performed at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 12 to evaluate the short- and medium-term effects of PEMF therapy.
32 studies on the registry are indexed under Heel Spur; 10 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 100 is above the median of 60 across 25 interventional studies indexed under Heel Spur.
Browse Heel Spur studies →Hatice Zehra FERHATLAR is the lead sponsor of 4 studies on the registry; 4 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
**Inclusion Criteria:**
**Exclusion Criteria:**
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Platelets
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants in this group will receive active pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy using a BTL-4000 magnetotherapy device with a solenoid applicator. Treatment will be administered at a magnetic field intensity of 2 mT and a frequency of 50 Hz for 20 minutes per session, three times per week for four weeks (12 sessions in total). All participants will also receive a standardized plantar fascia and gastrocnemius-soleus stretching exercise program.
Device: Active Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)
Participants in this group will undergo sham PEMF treatment using the same BTL-4000 magnetotherapy device, solenoid applicator, patient positioning, and session duration as the active treatment group. However, the electromagnetic field output will remain deactivated throughout each session. Sham treatment will be administered for 20 minutes per session, three times per week for four weeks (12 sessions in total). All participants will also receive the same standardized plantar fascia and gastrocnemius-soleus stretching exercise program.
Device: Sham Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (Sham PEMF)
Active pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy will be administered using a BTL-4000 magnetotherapy device with a solenoid applicator. The treatment parameters will be a magnetic field intensity of 2 mT, a frequency of 50 Hz, and a session duration of 20 minutes. Treatment will be provided three times per week for four consecutive weeks, totaling 12 sessions. Participants will also receive a standardized plantar fascia and gastrocnemius-soleus stretching exercise program.
Sham PEMF treatment will be administered using the same BTL-4000 magnetotherapy device, solenoid applicator, patient positioning, and session duration as the active PEMF group, but without activation of the electromagnetic field output. Each session will last 20 minutes, three times per week for four consecutive weeks, totaling 12 sessions. Participants will also receive the same standardized plantar fascia and gastrocnemius-soleus stretching exercise program.
Change in Morning First-Step Pain Intensity Assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Morning first-step heel pain intensity will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity. The change from baseline will be compared between the active PEMF and sham PEMF groups at weeks 4, 8, and 12.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
Change in Foot Function Index (FFI) Score
Foot-related pain, disability, and functional limitations will be assessed using the Foot Function Index (FFI). Higher scores indicate greater foot-related pain and disability. Changes from baseline will be compared between the active PEMF and sham PEMF groups.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
Change in Plantar Fascia Thickness Measured by Ultrasonography
Plantar fascia thickness will be measured using ultrasonography and recorded in millimeters (mm). Changes in plantar fascia thickness from baseline will be evaluated and compared between the active PEMF and sham PEMF groups at each follow-up visit.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
Change in Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) at the Medial Calcaneal Region
Pressure pain threshold (PPT) will be measured using a pressure algometer at the medial calcaneal region. Higher PPT values indicate lower mechanical pain sensitivity. Changes from baseline will be compared between the active PEMF and sham PEMF groups at weeks 4, 8, and 12.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, Week 8, and Week 12
Plan to share: No
Started Aug 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jan 2027, 5 months after the start.
Of 19 interventional studies with no phase under Heel Spur, half reached primary completion within 8 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 15. This study's planned 5 months is below that.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Hatice Zehra FERHATLAR