Background: Due to pressures of lifestyle and survival, both the urban and rural sections of society cannot give enough time for follow-up, thereby compelling many individuals to discontinue physiotherapy treatment. Treatment of plantar fasciitis (PF) requires multiple sessions and therefore falls into the scope of this problem. Taping has the advantage that it remains on the patient for multiple days and therefore negates the need for the patient's follow-up. If a single session of taping can deliver outcomes comparable to conventional LASER therapy, it would become a viable alternative solution for this problem. The aim was to compare and analyze the change in ankle muscle strength, flexibility, dorsiflexion, range of motion, and foot function in individuals with PF between the taping and LASER group.
Materials and methods: Sixty-one participants diagnosed with PF were randomly allocated into a study and control group. The study group received a single session of low-dye calcaneal taping while the control group received five sessions of LASER therapy. Both the groups received a home exercise program. A pre- and post-intervention assessment of all the variables was done for both groups.
Results: A within-group analysis using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a significant difference in all the variables in both the laser and taping group (p < 0.05). A between-group analysis using the Mann–Whitney U test showed no difference in outcomes between the taping and laser groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: A single session of taping can provide comparable outcomes as a conventional LASER therapy for short-term benefits in individuals with PF.
CTRI registration number: CTRI/2018/02/011850