The plantar fascia at the foot bottom causes pain and inflammation which affects this thick tissue that runs from heel bone to toe. This condition stands as the main source of heel pain and produces intense stabbing sensations which become noticeable in the morning and during periods of rest. The foot pain generally reduces when a foot becomes active but it often resurfaces after standing or being active for prolonged periods of time(1).
Plantar fasciitis occurs as a frequent problem which affects 10% of people worldwide during their lifespans. Annual plantar fasciitis cases in adults reach 1% within the United States while medical care is provided to over 2 million people annually. Research shows that plantar fasciitis affects a similar proportion of people in the United Kingdom during their lifetime at about 10%(2). The prevalence rate for plantar fasciitis in Pakistan remains unclear because studies show that 4.72% of housewives in Lahore experience the condition. Plantar fasciitis represents a widespread foot condition worldwide since it affects numerous population groups based on these statistical reports(3).
The main symptom of plantar fasciitis manifests as heel pain that feels either sharp and burning and stabbing. Heel pain reaches its highest intensity during the morning after a person wakes up because of the initial foot movements. Heel pain intensifies when maintaining a resting position but subsides as the affected person becomes active. The medical condition becomes worse due to high amounts of physical activity that results in daily foot pain(4).
Many patients report foot sensitivity combined with swellings that develop either in the heel zone or beneath the foot arch. The heel area tends to experience pain PRT establishes an efficient pain management strategy through its ability to treat nervous system dysfunctions which generate chronic pain and inflammatory conditions. PRRT improves health outcomes along with reducing treatment duration while it substantially enhances the life quality of people who experience prolonged pain. The body's natural pain relievers activate through non-invasive movements in Primal Reflex Release Technique which makes this method important for treating plantar fascitis.Through reflex activation PRT activates natural pain-relieving mechanisms of the brain thus leading to substantial pain reduction and improved inflammation levels. The direct intervention on pain-causing nerve dysfunctions resulting from chronic pain through PRT activates healthy nervous system operations(25).
The best results from PRT emerge when patients use it together with physical therapy along with stretching and strengthening therapeutic exercises. The therapy presents both gentle nature and noninvasive methods with combined benefits of using little to no medical drugs or special devices. The therapy serves alongside multiple therapeutic approaches for treating enduring pain issues and inflammatory conditions of the back, neck, and head along with fibromyalgia and arthritis and tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. The therapy provides therapeutic benefits in neurological medical fields which assist patients with sciatica and neuropathy complications and Parkinson's disease conditions.
18-40 years and of both genders.
Diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis by a healthcare professional
Experiencing heel pain or pain at the bottom of the foot for at least 3 months or more than 3 months
Patient with acute or chronic planter fasciitis Positive windless test.
Participants were excluded if they have any of the following: Previous surgery for Plantar Fasciitis
Systemic inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) Pregnancy
Neurological disorders affecting the lower limbs Other foot pathologies (e.g., tarsal tunnel syndrome)
Parallel
Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT)he Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) is a hands-on, non-invasive therapeutic approach designed to deactivate overactive protective reflexes believed to contr
BehavioralThe Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) is a non-invasive, manual therapy that targets specific neurogenic reflex points to reduce muscle tension, pain, and dysfunction. It works by modulating the autonomic nervous system to interrupt hyperactive primal reflexes such as withdrawal and startle reflexes, which are often involved in chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions like plantar fasciitis. In this study, PRRT was applied to participants in the experimental group over a 3-week period, consisting of multiple sessions per week. Each session included a series of gentle manual techniques such as the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) release, startle reflex inhibition, and positional reflex modulation. These techniques aim to reset the body's reflex-driven pain responses and promote functional mobility. PRRT was performed by trained physiotherapists following a standardized protocol to ensure consistency throughout the study.
Conventional Physiotherapy Treatment This reflects the standard care or routine treatment used as a comparison in your randomized controlled trial on plantar fasciitis. Let me know if your control gr
BehavioralThe control group in this randomized controlled trial received standard conventional physiotherapy treatment for plantar fasciitis. This treatment protocol consisted of traditional evidence-based physiotherapy interventions commonly used in clinical practice. Participants received supervised sessions including static and dynamic stretching exercises targeting the plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, and calf muscles. In addition, the intervention included modalities such as cryotherapy (application of ice packs), ultrasound therapy for soft tissue healing, and patient education on activity modification, proper footwear, and home exercise programs. The conventional treatment was administered for 3 sessions per week over a period of 3 weeks. Each session lasted approximately 30 to 40 minutes. The objective of this intervention was to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and improve foot function through mechanical and thermal means, without involving neuromuscular reflex reprogramming. This a
Change in Pain Intensity using Numeric Pain Rating Scale
The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is an 11-point scale used to assess the intensity of pain. Patients rate their current pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). This study assesses change in NPRS scores from baseline to post-intervention. The tool is highly reliable (r = 0.95-0.98) and valid (r = 0.85-0.95) for clinical use.
Change in Foot Function using Foot Function Index (FFI)
The Foot Function Index (FFI) is a self-reported questionnaire designed to measure foot pain, disability, and activity limitation. It includes 23 items across 3 subscales (pain, disability, and activity limitation), each scored from 0 to 10. The total score is expressed as a percentage, with higher scores indicating greater disability. This outcome assesses the change in FFI scores before and after treatment.
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