Short-term effects of combined kinesio taping and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with plantar fasciitis

Objective: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common cause of plantar heel pain leading to functional limitation and reduced quality of life. While extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a well-established treatment option, the additional benefit of kinesio taping (KT) as an adjunct modality remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of combining KT with ESWT on pain and foot function in patients with PF. Methods: This retrospective comparative study included 116 patients (54 in the KT+ESWT group and 62 in the ESWT-only group) with clinically diagnosed unilateral PF persisting for at least 3 months. Pain and functional status were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Roles and Maudsley Score (RMS), and Foot Function Index (FFI) subscales (pain, disability, and activity restriction) before and after a 3-week treatment period. Between-group differences were evaluated using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for baseline scores and demographic variables. Effect sizes were reported using partial eta-squared (η2) and post-hoc power analysis confirmed adequate study power. Results: Both treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements from baseline to post-treatment in VAS, RMS, and FFI subscales (all P < .001). After adjustment for baseline scores, the KT+ESWT group showed significantly greater improvement than the ESWT group across all outcome measures (adjusted P < .001 for VAS, RMS, FFI-Pain, FFI-Disability, and FFI-Activity restriction). The observed effect sizes were large (η2 = 0.165-0.280), and the reduction in VAS pain exceeded the minimally clinically important difference, indicating clinically meaningful improvement. Conclusion: The combined application of KT with ESWT resulted in superior short-term improvements in pain and foot function compared with ESWT alone in patients with PF. The complementary effects of KT in reducing plantar fascia load and enhancing proprioceptive control may augment ESWT’s established regenerative and analgesic benefits. Given its simplicity, low cost, and accessibility, KT may be considered a practical adjunct to ESWT in clinical rehabilitation settings. However, as the follow-up period was limited to 3 weeks, the long-term durability of treatment effects remains uncertain. Future randomized controlled trials with extended follow-up are needed to validate these findings. Cite this article as: Çelik G, Sarı MH, Doğan ŞK, Bal A. Short-term effects of combined kinesio taping and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with plantar fasciitis. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2026; 60(2), 0640, doi: 10.5152/j.aott.2026.25640