Effects of a plantar fascia stretching on ankle passive range of motion, balance, gait, and ankle stability in patients with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled study.

Objectives: The plantar fascia stretching intervention can correct balance ability and induces a change spatiotemporal parameter doing gait ability. Our objective is to compare the effects of a 4-week program of plantar fascia stretching with those of calf stretching exercise on ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion (DF-PROM), open and closed eyes static balance ability, gait parameters, and foot and ankle disability index in chronic post-stroke condition.

Methods: Participants were randomized to either the plantar fascia stretching (n = 10) or calf stretching (n = 10) group. Each group performed 5 times per week for 4 weeks and 3 sets of Calf stretch, and Plantar fascia stretch. Each set comprised 10 repetitions. Ankle DF-PROM, open and closed eyes static balance ability, gait parameters, and foot and ankle disability index were measured after 4 weeks of training.

Results: After 4 weeks of training, the plantar fascia stretching group showed significant improvement in all outcome measures compared with baseline (p < 0.05). Furthermore, ankle DF-PROM, open and closed eyes static balance ability, cadence, and foot and ankle disability index showed greater improvement in the plantar fascia stretching group compared to the calf stretching group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that plantar fascia stretching exercise improved ankle DF-PROM, open and closed eyes static balance ability, cadence, and foot and ankle disability index in chronic post-stroke condition.