Affiliations: Department of Physical Therapy, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Leonid Kalichman, Department of Physical Therapy, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel. Tel.: +972 52 2787050; Fax: +972 8 6477683; E-mail: kalichman@hotmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Plantar fasciitis is considered the most common cause of foot pain. Numerous non-surgical treatments have been used to relieve symptoms. Taping is one of the most widespread treatments, with several techniques utilized in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate, based on existing literature, the efficacy of different taping techniques in relieving symptoms and dysfunction caused by plantar fasciitis. METHODS:PubMed, CINAHL, PEDro, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception until December 2012, using a predefined search strategy. Controlled trials of any methodological quality were included, without any language restrictions. The methodological quality of interventional studies was evaluated inter alia by the PEDro score. RESULTS:Five randomized control trials, one cross-over study and two single group repeated measures studies met the inclusion criteria. Two studies were high quality; two were moderate quality and four were of poor methodological quality. All eight studies favored the use of different taping techniques. The most common technique was low dye taping. CONCLUSION:We found that in the short-term, taping is beneficial in treating plantar fasciitis. The best evidence exists for low dye taping and calcaneal taping. More research is needed to investigate long-term effect and effectiveness of specific taping techniques.
