Effects of Exercise Versus Exercise and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization for Plantar Fasciopathy Treatment

Inclusion Criteria for Plantar Fasciopathy Groups * age 18-60 years * self-reported history of plantar heel pain for a minimum of 2 months prior to enrollment * pain on palpation of the medial calcaneal tubercle or the proximal plantar fascia * pain is worst when first standing or walking after rest * willing to attempt not to use additional treatments (e.g., shoe modifications, foot orthoses/braces, injections, or surgery) during the trial period (12 weeks) * willing to attempt to discontinue taking all pain-relieving medications except Tylenol or ibuprofen for plantar heel pain during the trial period (12 weeks). Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Comparison Group: * age and BMI matched with Group 2 subjects * no history or symptoms of plantar heel pain in the past 12 months Exclusion Criteria for all three groups: * history of direct trauma to the foot with plantar fasciopathy * inflammatory arthritis in the feet/ankle (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis) * metabolic or endocrine disorders (e.g., Type I or II diabetes) * neurological disorders (e.g., Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) * prior foot surgery on the foot with plantar fasciopathy * pregnancy (by self-report) * corticosteroid injection to treat plantar fasciopathy in the past 12 weeks * body mass index \> 35 kg/m2 * receiving or applied for worker compensation benefits * no physical activity above 5 (moderate activity) on a 10-point Rating of Perceived Exertion scale in the past 24 hours prior to th…