Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41075286›Full record

ArticleJournal of foot and ankle research2025

Plantar Heel Pain Management: A Survey of UK Registered Healthcare Professionals.

Chris Drake, Lara Chapman, Carole Burnett, Jill Halstead, Anthony Redmond, Edward Roddy, Richard Wilkins, Anne-Maree Keenan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of foot and ankle research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Chris DrakeLeeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7596-6334
Lara ChapmanLeeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Carole BurnettNIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds, UK.
Jill HalsteadLeeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.
Anthony RedmondLeeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Edward RoddyCentre for Musculoskeletal Health Research, School of Medicine, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK.
Richard WilkinsLeeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Anne-Maree KeenanNIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds, UK.

Funding

HEE/NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship NIHR 302173HEE/NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship NIHR 302199NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre NIHR 203331NIHR Senior Clinical Practitioner Research Award NIHR 304526
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMultiple healthcare professions are involved in the management of plantar heel pain (PHP). Professional diversity can lead to varied practice and treatment choices. Understanding PHP management can aid clinical benchmarking, inform knowledge mobilisation strategies, and may support shared decision making between patients and referrers. This study explored the management of plantar heel pain by United Kingdom (UK) registered healthcare professionals.

methodsA cross-sectional, online survey using the Jisc Online Surveys platform. The survey was distributed to UK healthcare practitioners via digital channels, including professional bodies, special interest groups and social media.

resultsFour hundred and six professionals responded, predominantly podiatrists (181; 44.6%) and physiotherapists (144; 36.5%). The remaining 18% comprised orthotists, osteopaths, orthopaedic surgeons, General Practitioners (GPs), nurses, rheumatologists, sport and exercise rehabilitation specialists, and a consultant in sport and exercise medicine. Most respondents (247; 60.8%) did not commonly use imaging to guide PHP management. The majority (359; 88.4%) provided physical interventions: strengthening (88%), stretching (85.5%) and balance (65.2%) were frequently used. Prefabricated orthoses (56.3%) were more frequently used than custom orthoses (24.2%). Treatments employed by podiatrists and physiotherapists were similar. Advice on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (226; 83%), and simple analgesics (e.g., paracetamol) (221; 81%) to manage pain was commonly provided. Only 6.4% frequently performed steroid injections. Patient information was commonly provided (359; 88%); however, most practitioners (297; 83%) lacked resources in languages other than English.

conclusionHealthcare professionals in the UK favour exercise and prefabricated orthoses when managing PHP.

Indexed as

Fasciitis, PlantarHealth PersonnelHeelPain ManagementAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth Care SurveysHumansMalePhysical Therapy ModalitiesPodiatryPractice Patterns, Physicians'Surveys and QuestionnairesUnited Kingdomhealthcare professionalmanagementplantar heel painsurveyUK

Identifiers

PMID41075286
PMCPMC12515048

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.