Phase 1
N=41
Infracalcaneal Peppering Injection Technique for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis
Chronic Plantar Fasciitis
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05868577 ↗Enrolled (actual)
41
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Oct 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Visual Analog Scale Score - General Heel Tenderness — 46.7; 47.5 score on a scale
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Interventions
- Corticosteroid injection (CSI) with local anesthetic (LA) (Drug); Local anesthetic (LA) with Saline injection (Drug)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Primary completion
- Sep 2024
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Visual Analog Scale Score - General Heel Tenderness |
31.4; 24.4 | — |
| PRIMARY Visual Analog Scale Score - General Heel Tenderness |
31.4; 24.4 | — |
| PRIMARY Visual Analog Scale Score - General Heel Tenderness |
31.4; 24.4 | — |
| PRIMARY Visual Analog Scale Score - General Heel Tenderness |
31.4; 24.4 | — |
| PRIMARY Visual Analog Scale Score - General Heel Tenderness |
31.4; 24.4 | — |
| PRIMARY Visual Analog Scale Score - First Step Pain |
37.1; 22.9 | — |
| PRIMARY Visual Analog Scale Score - First Step Pain |
37.1; 22.9 | — |
| PRIMARY Visual Analog Scale Score - First Step Pain |
37.1; 22.9 | — |
| PRIMARY Visual Analog Scale Score - First Step Pain |
37.1; 22.9 | — |
| PRIMARY Visual Analog Scale Score - First Step Pain |
37.1; 22.9 | — |
| PRIMARY Foot Function Index (FFI) Score |
26.5; 18.6 | — |
| PRIMARY Foot Function Index (FFI) Score |
26.5; 18.6 | — |
| PRIMARY Foot Function Index (FFI) Score |
26.5; 18.6 | — |
| PRIMARY Foot Function Index (FFI) Score |
26.5; 18.6 | — |
| PRIMARY Foot Function Index (FFI) Score |
26.5; 18.6 | — |
| SECONDARY Exit Survey Score |
8.8; 9.6 | — |
| SECONDARY Number of Completed Exercises |
14.1; 13.8; 13.8; 15.9; 26.2; 25.1 | — |
| SECONDARY Heel Pressure Threshold Score - Symptomatic Foot |
12.3; 12.3; 12.6; 12.8; 12.5; 14.1 | — |
| SECONDARY Heel Pressure Threshold Score - Asymptomatic Foot |
16.0; 18.0; 15.7; 19.2; 14.5; 17.1 | — |
| SECONDARY Heel Tenderness Score - Symptomatic Foot |
1.95; 1.75; 1.29; 1.38; 1.18; 1.35 | — |
| SECONDARY Heel Tenderness Score - Asymptomatic Foot |
0.32; 0.33; 0.18; 0.21; 0; 0.12 | — |
Summary
Although no single treatment has shown superiority, short-term pain relief may be offered via a targeted local corticosteroid injection (CSI), used often in combination with local anesthetic (LA), which may reduce plantar fasciitis symptoms for up to 1 month. Moreover, administering a CSI is relatively quick and easy for any Provider to perform, though it is not without potential deleterious side effects and risks, including fibroblast degradation, fat pad atrophy, skin depigmentation, and even plantar fascia rupture.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Men and women 18 years of age and older
- Patient reported history of plantar heel pain and confirmed clinical tenderness of pain with direct palpation of the medial calcaneal tubercle on baseline exam
- Diagnosis of chronic plantar fasciitis, defined for study purposes as symptoms greater than or equal to 6 weeks in duration
Exclusion Criteria
- Individuals less than 18 years of age
- Pregnancy
- History of receiving a local heel injection (i.e. corticosteroid injection (CSI) or other injectate) within the last 3 months
- Prior heel trauma or surgery
- Allergy to local corticosteroid or local anesthesia
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05868577). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.