Additional Effects of Dry Needling With Conventional Physical Therapy Versus Conventional Physical Therapy in Plantar Fasciitis: a Randomized Control Trial

Inclusion criteria: * Age 40-60 years * Both genders * Plantar heel pain for longer than 3 months * Pain score at least or less than 8 on the numeric pain (NPRS) * Clinical diagnosis of unilateral PF in accordance with the clinical practice guidelines from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association APTA: * Plantar medial heel pain: most noticeable with initial steps after a period of inactivity but also worse following prolonged weight bearing * Heel pain precipitated by a recent increase in weight bearing activity * Pain with palpation of the proximal insertion of the plantar fascia * Positive windlass test * Negative tarsal tunnel tests * Limited active and passive talocrural joint dorsiflexion range of motion * Abnormal foot posture index score * High body mass index in nonathletic individuals Exclusion criteria: * Positive ankle drawer tests * Pregnant womwn, mental illness, immune suppressed patients, thrombocytopenia, anti-coagulant therapy patients and post-mastectomy * Congenital abnormalities of foot * A history of surgery to the ankle, foot or lower leg * Other causes of heel pain (including tarsal tunnel syndrome, calcaneal fracture, ankle or foot instability, arthritis of the foot or ankle, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, gout,peripheral neuropathy ) * Presented with 2 or more positive neurologic signs consistent with nerve root compression