Pub Date : 2026-02-08DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2026.2621130
Cody Ballay, Andreas Remis, Preston Roundy, Marissa Carvalho, Nicholas LeBlond, Chad E Cook
{"title":"Why are treatment effects so small in musculoskeletal interventions? Part I: methodological and measurement considerations.","authors":"Cody Ballay, Andreas Remis, Preston Roundy, Marissa Carvalho, Nicholas LeBlond, Chad E Cook","doi":"10.1080/10669817.2026.2621130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2026.2621130","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47319,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146143873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2026.2622561
Silvia Lahuerta-Martín, Ignacio Hernando-Garijo, Román Pérez-Robles, María Teresa Mingo-Gómez, Sandra Jimenez-Del-Barrio, Héctor Hernández-Lázaro, Luis Ceballos-Laita
Introduction: Individuals with hip-related groin pain typically present reduced hip range of motion (ROM), particularly hip internal rotation. This movement restriction may increase stress on pelvic structures contributing to pain, altered muscle function, and reduced physical function, thereby affecting quality of life (QoL). Manual therapy techniques aimed at improving hip ROM may therefore have beneficial effects in this population. The objective of this study is to compare the effects of a high-force hip lateral distraction mobilization to a sham hip lateral distraction mobilization in individuals with hip-related groin pain.
Methods: A double- blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. Thirty-five individuals with hip-related groin pain were randomized into an experimental group (EG) or a sham group (SG). Both groups performed four sessions (two per week) over two consecutive weeks. The primary outcomes were pain intensity and passive hip ROM. The secondary outcomes were muscle function, physical function, QoL, and self-perceived improvement. Data were collected at baseline and post-treatment.
Results: Significant between-group differences in favor of EG were found at post-treatment for pain intensity (in the last week, in sport activities, and in pain provocation tests); peak asymptomatic force and peak force in the squeeze test; passive hip ROM (except for adduction); physical function (sport and recreation, and participation physical activities); QoL; and self-perceived improvement.
Conclusion: High-force hip lateral distraction mobilization was more effective than sham hip lateral distraction mobilization for improving pain intensity, force in the squeeze test, passive hip ROM, physical function, and QoL in individuals with hip-related groin pain.
{"title":"Effects of a high-force hip lateral distraction mobilization in individuals with hip-related groin pain: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Silvia Lahuerta-Martín, Ignacio Hernando-Garijo, Román Pérez-Robles, María Teresa Mingo-Gómez, Sandra Jimenez-Del-Barrio, Héctor Hernández-Lázaro, Luis Ceballos-Laita","doi":"10.1080/10669817.2026.2622561","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2026.2622561","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Individuals with hip-related groin pain typically present reduced hip range of motion (ROM), particularly hip internal rotation. This movement restriction may increase stress on pelvic structures contributing to pain, altered muscle function, and reduced physical function, thereby affecting quality of life (QoL). Manual therapy techniques aimed at improving hip ROM may therefore have beneficial effects in this population. The objective of this study is to compare the effects of a high-force hip lateral distraction mobilization to a sham hip lateral distraction mobilization in individuals with hip-related groin pain.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A double- blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. Thirty-five individuals with hip-related groin pain were randomized into an experimental group (EG) or a sham group (SG). Both groups performed four sessions (two per week) over two consecutive weeks. The primary outcomes were pain intensity and passive hip ROM. The secondary outcomes were muscle function, physical function, QoL, and self-perceived improvement. Data were collected at baseline and post-treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant between-group differences in favor of EG were found at post-treatment for pain intensity (in the last week, in sport activities, and in pain provocation tests); peak asymptomatic force and peak force in the squeeze test; passive hip ROM (except for adduction); physical function (sport and recreation, and participation physical activities); QoL; and self-perceived improvement.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>High-force hip lateral distraction mobilization was more effective than sham hip lateral distraction mobilization for improving pain intensity, force in the squeeze test, passive hip ROM, physical function, and QoL in individuals with hip-related groin pain.</p>","PeriodicalId":47319,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146120502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2026.2624568
Md Rafe Ansari, Aditi Popli, Renu Burathi, Paras Saini
{"title":"Letter to the editor: synergistic effect of dry needling and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization in patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Md Rafe Ansari, Aditi Popli, Renu Burathi, Paras Saini","doi":"10.1080/10669817.2026.2624568","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2026.2624568","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47319,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146114517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2026.2624571
Anchal Thakur, Amit Kumar
{"title":"Comments on synergistic effect of dry needling and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization in patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Anchal Thakur, Amit Kumar","doi":"10.1080/10669817.2026.2624571","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2026.2624571","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47319,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146107437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2026.2621131
Mark H Shepherd, Jason Silvernail, Thomas Adderley, Elaine Lonnemann
{"title":"Orthopaedic manual physical therapy: it's not what you do, it's how you do it.","authors":"Mark H Shepherd, Jason Silvernail, Thomas Adderley, Elaine Lonnemann","doi":"10.1080/10669817.2026.2621131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2026.2621131","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47319,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146107531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-06-10DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2025.2512863
Rafał Gnat, Anna Gogola, Tomasz Wolny, Maciej Biały, Adam Muzalewski
Background: Manual therapists use manually applied physical force as their medium to achieve expected therapeutic effects. Force control ability based on proprioception is highly demanded for efficient 'hands-on' work and in the education process of manual therapy.
Objective: The aim of the presented study is to investigate the effects of manually applied, device-assisted force control training in manual therapy students and experienced manual therapists.
Design: A quasi-experimental design was applied with 2 groups of volunteers (students and experienced manual therapists), intervention in the form of 20-session manually applied, device-assisted force control training, and 3 measurements of dependent variables (baseline, post-training and 1-month follow-up).
Method: Force reproduction tests with no visual control were performed using a force plate and electronic dynamometer. Force control training was implemented using regular kitchen scales. A minimum of 1000 force reproduction trials was carried out during the training. Absolute errors of force reproduction were calculated.
Results: In the post-training and follow up-measurements students made significantly larger absolute errors than therapists. In follow-up they completely returned to their initial status, while the therapists retained much of the skills they had acquired.
Conclusions: Device-assisted force control training reduces the magnitude of the force reproduction error in students and therapists. Therapists seem to retain more of the training gains. Further research should consider effects of a mixed form of force control training (with human-partner and device-assisted ones) implemented for the longer periods of time. This could bring a new quality to the process of manual therapist education.
{"title":"Effects of manually applied force control training in physiotherapy students and experienced manual therapists.","authors":"Rafał Gnat, Anna Gogola, Tomasz Wolny, Maciej Biały, Adam Muzalewski","doi":"10.1080/10669817.2025.2512863","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10669817.2025.2512863","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Manual therapists use manually applied physical force as their medium to achieve expected therapeutic effects. Force control ability based on proprioception is highly demanded for efficient 'hands-on' work and in the education process of manual therapy.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of the presented study is to investigate the effects of manually applied, device-assisted force control training in manual therapy students and experienced manual therapists.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A quasi-experimental design was applied with 2 groups of volunteers (students and experienced manual therapists), intervention in the form of 20-session manually applied, device-assisted force control training, and 3 measurements of dependent variables (baseline, post-training and 1-month follow-up).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Force reproduction tests with no visual control were performed using a force plate and electronic dynamometer. Force control training was implemented using regular kitchen scales. A minimum of 1000 force reproduction trials was carried out during the training. Absolute errors of force reproduction were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the post-training and follow up-measurements students made significantly larger absolute errors than therapists. In follow-up they completely returned to their initial status, while the therapists retained much of the skills they had acquired.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Device-assisted force control training reduces the magnitude of the force reproduction error in students and therapists. Therapists seem to retain more of the training gains. Further research should consider effects of a mixed form of force control training (with human-partner and device-assisted ones) implemented for the longer periods of time. This could bring a new quality to the process of manual therapist education.</p>","PeriodicalId":47319,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"55-65"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144267603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-06-06DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2025.2515581
Bryan Dinh, James Dunning, Gary A Kearns, Laura Thorp, Casey Charlebois, Ian Young
Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of two dry needling (DN) techniques in embalmed cadavers that are commonly used to target the gluteus medius osteotendinous junction (OTJ).
Methods: Seven embalmed cadaveric specimens were placed in prone. Technique 1 used a needle insertion point that was measured 2 fingerbreadths superior and 3 fingerbreadths posteromedial to the greater trochanter (GT) apex using the donor's fingerbreadths. The needle insertion point for technique 2 involved locating a line between the GT apex and the sacro-coccygeal hiatus and estimating one-third of the distance from the GT. Using the entry point for each technique, a dry needle was then inserted in each body with an anterior and inferolateral angulation until contact with a boney backdrop was achieved. Dissections of the posterior hip muscles were then performed to confirm with a binary decision (yes/no) the needle tip location at the gluteus medius OTJ.
Results: In embalmed cadavers, the accuracy rate of the needle tip reaching the gluteus medius OTJ using Technique 1 (9 out of 10, 90%) was significantly higher (chi-squared test with Yates' correction = 9.800; p = 0.0017) than Technique 2 (1 out of 10, 10%).
Discussion/conclusion: Surface palpation of bony landmarks and a direction-specific fingerbreadth measurement is an appropriate method to locate the correct needle insertion point superomedial to the greater trochanter to reach the gluteus medius OTJ with a 90% accuracy rate.
{"title":"A comparison of dry needle placement accuracy rates between two approaches targeting the gluteus medius osteotendinous junction in cadavers.","authors":"Bryan Dinh, James Dunning, Gary A Kearns, Laura Thorp, Casey Charlebois, Ian Young","doi":"10.1080/10669817.2025.2515581","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10669817.2025.2515581","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of two dry needling (DN) techniques in embalmed cadavers that are commonly used to target the gluteus medius osteotendinous junction (OTJ).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seven embalmed cadaveric specimens were placed in prone. Technique 1 used a needle insertion point that was measured 2 fingerbreadths superior and 3 fingerbreadths posteromedial to the greater trochanter (GT) apex using the donor's fingerbreadths. The needle insertion point for technique 2 involved locating a line between the GT apex and the sacro-coccygeal hiatus and estimating one-third of the distance from the GT. Using the entry point for each technique, a dry needle was then inserted in each body with an anterior and inferolateral angulation until contact with a boney backdrop was achieved. Dissections of the posterior hip muscles were then performed to confirm with a binary decision (yes/no) the needle tip location at the gluteus medius OTJ.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In embalmed cadavers, the accuracy rate of the needle tip reaching the gluteus medius OTJ using Technique 1 (9 out of 10, 90%) was significantly higher (chi-squared test with Yates' correction = 9.800; <i>p</i> = 0.0017) than Technique 2 (1 out of 10, 10%).</p><p><strong>Discussion/conclusion: </strong>Surface palpation of bony landmarks and a direction-specific fingerbreadth measurement is an appropriate method to locate the correct needle insertion point superomedial to the greater trochanter to reach the gluteus medius OTJ with a 90% accuracy rate.</p>","PeriodicalId":47319,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"40-46"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144235544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-03-30DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2025.2486110
Robert Trybulski, Gracjan Olaniszyn, Małgorzata Smoter, Filipe Manuel Clemente, Andriy Vovkanych, Adrian Kużdzał
Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of fascial manipulation (FM) on pain alleviation in adults, providing valuable insights for future research and practitioners by addressing a significant gap in the existing literature.
Methods: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Key databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched for relevant studies. The eligibility criteria required randomized clinical trials involving adults (>18 years) with musculoskeletal pain, who participated in FM, and included either true control or active control groups as comparators. To assess the risk of bias, the PEDro scale was used, while the certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE scale. Out of the initial pool of 138 studies, 15 were determined to be eligible for inclusion in this systematic review.
Results: Results showed significant favoring effect for the FM compared to the active-control group in pain-related outcomes (ES = -0.80, 95% CI -1.30 to -0.29, p = 0.002, I2 = 85%). The certainty of evidence, as determined by the GRADE assessment, was rated as very low.
Conclusions: Although the included studies provide evidence of very low certainty - given the small sample sizes, lack of blinding, and significant limitations in the intervention - the meta-analysis suggests that FM may potentially be beneficial in reducing pain associated with various musculoskeletal conditions. However, more robust research is needed to strengthen these findings, with a focus on increasing the number of blinded studies, reducing methodological heterogeneity, and further exploring the underlying mechanisms that may explain the observed trends in the evidence.
目的:本系统回顾和荟萃分析旨在总结筋膜操作(FM)对成人疼痛缓解的影响,通过解决现有文献中的重大空白,为未来的研究和从业者提供有价值的见解。方法:采用meta分析进行系统评价。检索了PubMed、Scopus和Web of Science等关键数据库的相关研究。资格标准要求随机临床试验,涉及参加FM的患有肌肉骨骼疼痛的成年人(bb0 - 18岁),并包括真正的对照组或积极的对照组作为比较。为了评估偏倚风险,使用PEDro量表,而证据的确定性使用GRADE量表进行评估。在最初的138项研究中,有15项被确定为有资格纳入本系统评价。结果:结果显示FM组在疼痛相关结果上明显优于主动对照组(ES = -0.80, 95% CI -1.30 ~ -0.29, p = 0.002, I2 = 85%)。根据GRADE评估,证据的确定性被评为非常低。结论:尽管纳入的研究提供了非常低的确定性证据-考虑到样本量小,缺乏盲法和干预的显着局限性-荟萃分析表明FM可能有助于减轻与各种肌肉骨骼疾病相关的疼痛。然而,需要更有力的研究来加强这些发现,重点是增加盲法研究的数量,减少方法学的异质性,并进一步探索可能解释证据中观察到的趋势的潜在机制。
{"title":"The effects of fascial manipulation on pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis.","authors":"Robert Trybulski, Gracjan Olaniszyn, Małgorzata Smoter, Filipe Manuel Clemente, Andriy Vovkanych, Adrian Kużdzał","doi":"10.1080/10669817.2025.2486110","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10669817.2025.2486110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of fascial manipulation (FM) on pain alleviation in adults, providing valuable insights for future research and practitioners by addressing a significant gap in the existing literature.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Systematic review with meta-analysis. Key databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched for relevant studies. The eligibility criteria required randomized clinical trials involving adults (>18 years) with musculoskeletal pain, who participated in FM, and included either true control or active control groups as comparators. To assess the risk of bias, the PEDro scale was used, while the certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE scale. Out of the initial pool of 138 studies, 15 were determined to be eligible for inclusion in this systematic review.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results showed significant favoring effect for the FM compared to the active-control group in pain-related outcomes (ES = -0.80, 95% CI -1.30 to -0.29, <i>p</i> = 0.002, I<sup>2</sup> = 85%). The certainty of evidence, as determined by the GRADE assessment, was rated as very low.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although the included studies provide evidence of very low certainty - given the small sample sizes, lack of blinding, and significant limitations in the intervention - the meta-analysis suggests that FM may potentially be beneficial in reducing pain associated with various musculoskeletal conditions. However, more robust research is needed to strengthen these findings, with a focus on increasing the number of blinded studies, reducing methodological heterogeneity, and further exploring the underlying mechanisms that may explain the observed trends in the evidence.</p>","PeriodicalId":47319,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"4-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143755114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2025.2610533
John M Woolf, Alec Kay, Paul E Mintken
{"title":"Existential crisis or evolution? Reimagining the future of orthopaedic manual physical therapy fellowship training.","authors":"John M Woolf, Alec Kay, Paul E Mintken","doi":"10.1080/10669817.2025.2610533","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2025.2610533","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47319,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy","volume":"34 1","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145991320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Introduction: Plantar Fasciitis (PF) is a common foot disorder. Kinesio Taping (KT) and dry needling (DN) are frequently used treatment options; however, their comparative efficacy remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of KT and DN on pain, functional performance, and plantar fascia thickness in patients with PF.
Methods: In this single-blinded randomized controlled trial, 52 PF patients (30 women and 22 men; mean age 45.3 ± 8.1 years) were randomly assigned to DN, KT, and control groups. All groups received routine physiotherapy five days per week. Pain, functional performance, and plantar fascia thickness were evaluated at three time points: before, immediately, and two weeks post-intervention. Assessments included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) for performance, and ultrasonography for plantar fascia thickness.
Results: VAS scores decreased significantly across all groups immediately post-intervention (p < 0.05). However, no significant interaction effect was observed, indicating similar pain reduction trends among groups at the two-week follow-up. The mean VAS scores before the intervention were 6.53 ± 0.91 (DN group), 6.07 ± 1.10 (KT group), and 6.00 ± 1.51 (control group), and after the intervention were 4.20 ± 2.00 (DN group), 4.33 ± 1.87 (KT group), and 4.87 ± 2.16 (control group). Both KT and DN groups showed improvements in FAOS score (p < 0.02), with a significant time × group interaction effect favoring greater improvements in the DN group compared to the control group. A significant group effect was observed for D2 thickness, with the DN group showing a greater reduction compared to the KT and control groups (p < 0.002).
Conclusion: All interventions effectively reduced pain, improved performance, and decreased plantar fascia thickness in PF patients. DN demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing central plantar fascia thickness (D2) compared to KT.
足底筋膜炎(PF)是一种常见的足部疾病。肌内效贴(KT)和干针(DN)是常用的治疗方案;然而,它们的相对疗效仍然知之甚少。本研究旨在评估和比较KT和DN对PF患者疼痛、功能表现和足底筋膜厚度的影响。方法:在这项单盲随机对照试验中,52例PF患者(30名女性和22名男性;平均年龄45.3±8.1岁),随机分为DN组、KT组和对照组。所有组均接受常规物理治疗,每周5天。疼痛,功能表现和足底筋膜厚度在三个时间点进行评估:干预前,立即和干预后两周。评估包括疼痛的视觉模拟评分(VAS),足踝预后评分(FAOS)和足底筋膜厚度的超声检查。结果:干预后各组VAS评分均显著下降(p p p)。结论:所有干预措施均有效减轻了PF患者的疼痛,改善了工作表现,降低了足底筋膜厚度。与KT相比,DN在减少足底中央筋膜厚度(D2)方面表现出更好的疗效。
{"title":"Effects of kinesio-tape and dry needling on pain, performance, and plantar fascia thickness in patients with plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Maryam Mokhtari, Fatemeh Ehsani, Hamid Reza Mokhtarinia, Rasoul Bagheri, Salimeh Mahmoudi","doi":"10.1080/10669817.2025.2514128","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10669817.2025.2514128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Plantar Fasciitis (PF) is a common foot disorder. Kinesio Taping (KT) and dry needling (DN) are frequently used treatment options; however, their comparative efficacy remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of KT and DN on pain, functional performance, and plantar fascia thickness in patients with PF.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this single-blinded randomized controlled trial, 52 PF patients (30 women and 22 men; mean age 45.3 ± 8.1 years) were randomly assigned to DN, KT, and control groups. All groups received routine physiotherapy five days per week. Pain, functional performance, and plantar fascia thickness were evaluated at three time points: before, immediately, and two weeks post-intervention. Assessments included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) for performance, and ultrasonography for plantar fascia thickness.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>VAS scores decreased significantly across all groups immediately post-intervention (<i>p</i> < 0.05). However, no significant interaction effect was observed, indicating similar pain reduction trends among groups at the two-week follow-up. The mean VAS scores before the intervention were 6.53 ± 0.91 (DN group), 6.07 ± 1.10 (KT group), and 6.00 ± 1.51 (control group), and after the intervention were 4.20 ± 2.00 (DN group), 4.33 ± 1.87 (KT group), and 4.87 ± 2.16 (control group). Both KT and DN groups showed improvements in FAOS score (<i>p</i> < 0.02), with a significant time × group interaction effect favoring greater improvements in the DN group compared to the control group. A significant group effect was observed for D2 thickness, with the DN group showing a greater reduction compared to the KT and control groups (<i>p</i> < 0.002).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>All interventions effectively reduced pain, improved performance, and decreased plantar fascia thickness in PF patients. DN demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing central plantar fascia thickness (D2) compared to KT.</p>","PeriodicalId":47319,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"28-39"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144217286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}