Effect of Prefabricated Insole with Shock Absorb Canal and Custom-Molded Insole on Pain and Function in Subjects with Plantar Fasciitis: A Pilot Study

 The purpose of this study was comparison of the effect of custom-molded insole and prefabricated insole with shock absorb canal on pain and function in subjects with plantar fasciitis. 

In this pilot study, fourteen patients with plantar fasciitis were non-randomly assigned to two groups of 7 people. A group received the custom-molded insoles and another group received the prefabricated insoles with shock absorb canal. Before the use of the insoles in each group, the patients ' pain and function were recorded. The pain score was measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS). For evaluating the function, patients were asked to complete the foot and ankle ability measurement questionnaire (FAAM).Then, patients in both groups used insoles for 6 weeks. After a 6-week use of the insoles, the pain and function were recorded for the second time. Wilcoxon test was used for the effect of insoles in each group (comparison before and after the intervention) and Mann-Whitney test for comparison between two groups. 

 In comparison within each group, the findings showed that the use of both insoles after 6 weeks led to a significant decrease in pain score and a significant increase in the score of daily activities as well as sports activities compared with before use of insoles (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in pain and function scores between the two groups after using the insoles (P>0.05). 

 According to the findings, there was no significant difference between the custom-molded insole and the prefabricated insole in improving pain and function of patients with plantar fasciitis. However, both types of insoles reduced pain and improved the function, with more acceptable to the prefabricated insole.