Nerve gliding exercises may amplify shock wave therapy for stubborn heel pain
NCT ID NCT07662941
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether adding neural gliding exercises—gentle movements that help nerves slide smoothly—to standard shock wave therapy and home exercises can further reduce pain and improve foot function in people with plantar fasciitis. About 56 adults with this common cause of heel pain will be randomly assigned to receive either shock wave therapy plus standard exercises, or the same plus neural gliding exercises, for five weeks. The goal is to see if the nerve-focused approach offers extra relief.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy, neural gliding exercises, standard exercise program
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination approach could offer a more effective, non-surgical way to reduce heel pain and improve foot function in people with plantar fasciitis.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with 56 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The added benefit of neural gliding exercises may be modest or not statistically significant.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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56 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2024
- Finished
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Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with plantar fasciitis * Aged between 18 and 60 years * Male or female participants * Willing to participate voluntarily in the study * Able to comply with treatment and evaluation procedures Exclusion Criteria: * Lack of cooperation or inability to follow instructions * Presence of systemic or metabolic disease * Malignancy, osteoporosis, fracture, coagulation disorders, active infection, or pacemaker implantation * Pregnancy * Receiving any other treatment for plantar fasciitis during the study period * Having received treatment for plantar fasciitis within the last 6 months
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Health Sciences Gulhane Training and Research Hospital
Ankara, Ankara, 06010, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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