“COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF DRY NEEDLING AND DYNAMIC CUPPING WITH INSTRUMENT-ASSISTED SOFT TISSUE MOBILISATION (IASTM) ON PAIN AND FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH PLANTAR FASCIITIS: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL”

Abstract

Background: One of the most common causes of heel pain and functional limitation is plantar fasciitis, which can have a significant impact on mobility. Various conservative physiotherapy interventions have been suggested. However, there is limited evidence comparing Dry Needling (DN) and Dynamic Cupping along with IASTM.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of Dry Needling and Dynamic Cupping with IASTM in reducing pain and improving functional disability among patients with plantar fasciitis.

Methods: As 66 clinically diagnosed participants with plantar fasciitis were randomized in a controlled trial. Initially, 70 participants were recruited, of whom, 4 dropped out when carrying out the study. Participants were randomly assigned either to the Dry Needling (ND) group (n = 33) and the Dynamic Cupping with IASTM (DC+IASTM) group (n = 33). For four weeks, both groups were treated three times per week. The VAS and FFI on an individual’s pain intensity and functional disability were used in this study. The VAS and FFI estimate the severity of pain and its impact on functional ability, respectively. Statistical evaluation was accomplished using paired and independent samples t-tests with the standard for significance p < .05.

Results: Both interventions resulted in significant improvements in pain and functional disability (p < .001). The Dry Needling group demonstrated significant reductions in VAS scores (7.62 ± 0.84 to 4.82 ± 0.96) and FFI scores (73.85 ± 9.23 to 49.27 ± 9.08). The Dynamic Cupping with IASTM group showed greater improvements, with VAS scores decreasing from 7.35 ± 0.84 to 3.26 ± 1.11 and FFI scores decreasing from 73.94 ± 9.37 to 43.33 ± 13.08. Between-group analysis revealed significantly greater improvements in favour of Dynamic Cupping with IASTM for both pain and functional disability (p < .001).

Conclusion: Dynamic Cupping along with IASTM was more effective in reducing pain and improving recovery function than IASTM alone for the management of plantar fasciitis. Based on these findings, the use of the treatment can be considered an effective conservative physiotherapy intervention for patients with PF.