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STEP Trial for Heel Fat Pad Syndrome
Sponsor: Northwestern University
Summary
The primary objectives of this study are to investigate the immediate and short-term effect of heel fat pad loop taping (experimental intervention) vs. control taping (control intervention) on pain and function in individuals with heel fat pad syndrome (HFPS). For mechanistic understanding of the effect of the loop taping, we will assess the immediate effect of taping on the pressure pain threshold and heel fat pad thickness.
Official title: Study of Taping for Heel Fat Pad Syndrome (STEP): A Randomized Controlled Crossover Single-blind Clinical Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 79 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
16
Start Date
2022-06-08
Completion Date
2023-12-10
Last Updated
2026-06-25
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Loop taping
The participant lays prone on the treatment table with his/her feet dangling off the table. The physiotherapist cleans the heel with alcohol wipes. Care is taken to avoid erasing skin markings for respective algometer and ultrasound assessment by these wipes. The therapist applies 1-inch-width Elastikon tape around the heel, encircling and bunching the fat pad to centralize it and enhance its fullness and resilience to compression. The tape starts at the middle distal end of the fat pad and loop around the periphery and ends by crossing the starting point at the middle distal end of the fat pad. Two to three overlapping loops will be applied to ensure strong support during weight-bearing activities. Participants will be instructed to wear the loop taping for 3 days and remove the taping after responding to an online survey 3-days post intervention.
Control taping
The participant lays prone on the treatment table with his/her feet dangling off the table. The physiotherapist cleans the heel with alcohol wipes. The therapist applies 1-inch-width Elastikon tape around the heel, lightly encircling the heel fat pad without any force/pressure or attempt to bunch or centralize the fat pad. The tape starts at the middle distal end of the fat pad and loop around the periphery and ends by crossing the starting point at the middle distal end of the fat pad. Two to three overlapping loops will be applied. Participants will be instructed to wear the control taping for 3 days and remove the taping after responding to an online survey 3-days post intervention.
Locations (1)
Aalborg University
Aalborg, Denmark