Comparison of the Effects of Low-Dye and Kinesiology Taping in Plantar Fasciitis on Pain and Function: A Randomized Double-Blind Study

Background: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is becoming an increasingly common source of limitation in people's daily activities. As such, this study sought to investigate the effects of kinesiology taping (KT) and low-Dye taping treatments, used in conjunction with extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), on pain and function in patients with PF. Methods: To conduct this randomized controlled study, 45 individuals with PF aged 18 to 65 years were included, with 15 individuals assigned to each group: the KT, low-Dye, and control groups. Pain intensity was evaluated using the visual analog scale, and functionality was assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale before and after the study. Each group received three sessions of ESWT. Results: When pretreatment and post-treatment differences were analyzed, first-step pain in the morning, pain with palpation, and pain after prolonged standing were reduced in the KT, low-Dye, and control groups ( P < .05 for all). There were differences in the AOFAS total score in the KT ( P <.001; r = 2.03), low-Dye ( P < .001; r = 1.49), and control ( P = .003; r = 0.92) groups. Low-Dye taping was more effective than the control in reducing pain with standing and improving AOFAS function scores ( P < .05). Low-Dye taping and KT were effective in improving AOFAS total scores ( P < .05) but were not superior to each other ( P > .05). Conclusions: Based on these findings, taping techniques such as KT and low-Dye, combined with conventional treatments such as ESWT, may be beneficial for improving pain and function in individuals with PF. Further randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up are needed to confirm this hypothesis.