Study Design This prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken between November 2023 and March 2024. Written and verbal informed consent was obtained from all patients. The study protocol was approved by University Human Research Ethics Committee (AEŞH-EK 1-2023-612). Patients While 106 patients who applied to the City Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic with heel pain that had been present for at least six months, received foot radiography and were diagnosed with PF were included in the study as a patient group; 100 patients who did not have foot pain and had musculoskeletal pain for at least 6 months were included in the study as a control group, between November 2023 and March 2024. All the participants were aged 18 to 65 years. Patients with a history of diabetes, hypothyroidism and CKD, a history of malignancy, with vasculitis, neurological diseases that may cause neuropathic pain, lumbar discopathy, those with a previous history of fracture or surgery in the heel area, received injections or ESWT treatment due to heel pain in the last 3 months, rheumatic diseases that may affect pain such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, and severe circulatory disorders on the side with pain, were excluded from the study. The study was commenced after obtaining the approval of the local ethics committee and informed consent of the participants. All patients' personal information (age, gender, occupation, education information), general health information (smoking and alcohol use information, known chronic disease history, body mass index), severity of heel pain and when it started were recorded. While the Foot Function Index (FFI) scale, which evaluates the functionality of the foot, was applied to the patient group; the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which evaluates pain intensity, the Pain-DETECT scale, which evaluates neuropathic pain, and the Central Sensitization Scale (CSI), which evaluates central sensitization, were applied to the patient and control groups. The details of the implementation of the instruments are as follows:
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
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Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Pain-DETECT
Timeframe: One Time
Foot Function Index
Timeframe: One Time
Central Sensitization Scale
Timeframe: One Time