title: Physiotherapy for plantar fasciitis: a UK-wide survey of current practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify how United Kingdom (UK) physiotherapists currently diagnose, assess and manage plantar fasciitis in routine practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online questionnaire survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Practising physiotherapists across the UK who treat patients with plantar fasciitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physiotherapists were approached via 'interactive Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)' online networks and an email database of clinical educators in South West England. An online questionnaire was developed by reviewing similar existing physiotherapy surveys and consultation with experienced musculoskeletal researchers/clinicians. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  285 physiotherapists responded, with 257 complete survey responses. Pain on palpation and early morning pain were the most common diagnostic criteria, with some physiotherapists using no formal test criteria. Advice (237/257, 92%), plantar fasciitis pathology education (207/257, 81%) and general stretching exercises (189/257, 74%) were most routinely used. Prefabricated orthotics, custom made orthotics and night splints were seldom always used. For the manual therapy approach, the most frequently used modalities were massage, myofascial release, specific soft tissue mobilisations and myofascial trigger point therapy. Commonly used outcome measures were pain assessment, functional tests and range of movement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physiotherapists appeared to follow most of the established diagnostic criteria for PF, but have not followed established outcome measure guidelines. Advice as well as education with an emphasis on self-management including calf/hamstring stretching was the most commonly reported treatment approach. There was uncertainty whether this approach accurately reflected clinical practice used throughout the UK, owing to potential response bias/unknown response rate and the low number of patients with PF treated by the respondents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol BS16 1DD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Rob.Grieve@uwe.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grieve
authors.affiliation: Department of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol BS16 1DD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shea
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D061826:Foot Orthoses; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000379:methods; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Physiotherapy; Plantar fasciitis; Questionnaire survey; Self-management