The Impact of Quadratus Plantae Muscle Dry Needling on Pain and Thickness of the Plantar Fascia in Individuals With Plantar Fasciitis

Purpose: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a leading cause of foot discomfort and significantly impacts the overall quality of life. Trigger points dry needling is an alternative treatment for heel pain.  Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the quadratus plantae muscle dry needling on pain a...

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Main Authors: Zeinab Mahmoudi, Roghayeh Mohammadi, Fatemeh Paknazar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Negah Institute for Scientific Communication 2025-12-01
Series:Physical Treatments
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ptj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-669-en.pdf
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author Zeinab Mahmoudi
Roghayeh Mohammadi
Fatemeh Paknazar
author_facet Zeinab Mahmoudi
Roghayeh Mohammadi
Fatemeh Paknazar
author_sort Zeinab Mahmoudi
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a leading cause of foot discomfort and significantly impacts the overall quality of life. Trigger points dry needling is an alternative treatment for heel pain.  Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the quadratus plantae muscle dry needling on pain and variations in the thickness of the plantar fascia among individuals with plantar fasciitis using ultrasound imaging. Forty patients in the intervention and control group were taught to massage and stretch the plantar fascia for 2 weeks. The patients in the intervention group underwent quadratus plantae muscle dry-needling twice a week for 2 weeks. Plantar fascia thickness and pain were measured with ultrasound and visual analog scale, respectively. Study variables were measured before the first and last sessions in both groups. To analyze the data, paired t-test, and independent t-test were used with a significance level of 0.05.  Results: No significant difference in pain reduction was shown in between-group comparison (P=0.077). Between-group comparison after 2 weeks of treatment indicated a significant decrease in plantar fascia thickness following dry needling (P<0.001 with a moderate effect of 0.33).  Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that quadratus plantae muscle dry needling is significantly effective in improving pain and reducing plantar fascia thickness in patients with plantar fasciitis.
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spelling doaj-art-6bae0fe3319c4ff5b06505745e5bb93a2025-08-20T01:47:32ZengNegah Institute for Scientific CommunicationPhysical Treatments2423-58302025-12-01152131140The Impact of Quadratus Plantae Muscle Dry Needling on Pain and Thickness of the Plantar Fascia in Individuals With Plantar FasciitisZeinab Mahmoudi0Roghayeh Mohammadi1Fatemeh Paknazar2 Student Research Committee, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. Purpose: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a leading cause of foot discomfort and significantly impacts the overall quality of life. Trigger points dry needling is an alternative treatment for heel pain.  Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the quadratus plantae muscle dry needling on pain and variations in the thickness of the plantar fascia among individuals with plantar fasciitis using ultrasound imaging. Forty patients in the intervention and control group were taught to massage and stretch the plantar fascia for 2 weeks. The patients in the intervention group underwent quadratus plantae muscle dry-needling twice a week for 2 weeks. Plantar fascia thickness and pain were measured with ultrasound and visual analog scale, respectively. Study variables were measured before the first and last sessions in both groups. To analyze the data, paired t-test, and independent t-test were used with a significance level of 0.05.  Results: No significant difference in pain reduction was shown in between-group comparison (P=0.077). Between-group comparison after 2 weeks of treatment indicated a significant decrease in plantar fascia thickness following dry needling (P<0.001 with a moderate effect of 0.33).  Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that quadratus plantae muscle dry needling is significantly effective in improving pain and reducing plantar fascia thickness in patients with plantar fasciitis.http://ptj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-669-en.pdfplantar fasciitisdry needlingultrasonographytrigger points
spellingShingle Zeinab Mahmoudi
Roghayeh Mohammadi
Fatemeh Paknazar
The Impact of Quadratus Plantae Muscle Dry Needling on Pain and Thickness of the Plantar Fascia in Individuals With Plantar Fasciitis
Physical Treatments
plantar fasciitis
dry needling
ultrasonography
trigger points
title The Impact of Quadratus Plantae Muscle Dry Needling on Pain and Thickness of the Plantar Fascia in Individuals With Plantar Fasciitis
title_full The Impact of Quadratus Plantae Muscle Dry Needling on Pain and Thickness of the Plantar Fascia in Individuals With Plantar Fasciitis
title_fullStr The Impact of Quadratus Plantae Muscle Dry Needling on Pain and Thickness of the Plantar Fascia in Individuals With Plantar Fasciitis
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of Quadratus Plantae Muscle Dry Needling on Pain and Thickness of the Plantar Fascia in Individuals With Plantar Fasciitis
title_short The Impact of Quadratus Plantae Muscle Dry Needling on Pain and Thickness of the Plantar Fascia in Individuals With Plantar Fasciitis
title_sort impact of quadratus plantae muscle dry needling on pain and thickness of the plantar fascia in individuals with plantar fasciitis
topic plantar fasciitis
dry needling
ultrasonography
trigger points
url http://ptj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-669-en.pdf
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