{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T22:30:59Z","timestamp":1792708259035,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Universiti Sains Malaysia","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,30]],"date-time":"2025-08-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756512000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Malays J Med Sci"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Recent evidence suggests that appropriate footwear can facilitate recovery in individuals with plantar fasciitis. This study evaluated the effectiveness of combining arch-supportive, shock-absorbing flip-flop sandals with physical therapy (PT) compared to PT alone in treating plantar fasciitis.\r\nMethods: Sixty-six participants aged 20\u201360 years with normal body mass index and plantar fasciitis (median symptom duration = 6 months) were randomised into either an intervention group (n = 33; PT plus sandals) or a control group (n = 33; PT alone). Both groups received eight weeks of PT and home exercises. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks and included pain-related parameters, pressure pain threshold, the Foot Function Index, and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale. The global rating of change was evaluated at weeks four and eight.\r\nResults: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements across all outcome measures (P &lt; 0.001). A significant time \u00d7 group interaction was observed for first-step post-inactivity pain (F = 3.238, P = 0.042), with the intervention group showing greater improvement (mean reduction: 3.71 points, d = 2.01) compared to controls (mean reduction: 2.82 points, d = 1.30). Improvements in all other outcome measures were comparable between the groups.\r\nConclusion: While PT effectively improves plantar fasciitis symptoms, adding sandals provided significantly greater improvement in first-step post-inactivity pain. Further large-scale trials with extended follow-up are warranted to confirm these findings and assess long-term efficacy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.21315\/mjms-01-2025-018","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,2]],"date-time":"2025-09-02T00:55:12Z","timestamp":1756774512000},"page":"189-202","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Effectiveness of Sandals Combined with Physical Therapy Versus Physical Therapy Alone on Pain and Function in Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomised Controlled Trial"],"prefix":"10.21315","volume":"32","author":[{"given":"Thanwarat","family":"Lunsarn","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Torkamol","family":"Hunsawong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kanok-On","family":"Thanasootr","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Raoyrin","family":"Chanavirut","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Uraiwan","family":"Chatchawan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yodchai","family":"Boonprakop","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"8963","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,30]]},"container-title":["Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/ejournal.usm.my\/mjms\/article\/download\/mjms_vol32-no4-2025_13\/pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/ejournal.usm.my\/mjms\/article\/download\/mjms_vol32-no4-2025_13\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,2]],"date-time":"2025-09-02T00:55:13Z","timestamp":1756774513000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/ejournal.usm.my\/mjms\/article\/view\/mjms_vol32-no4-2025_13"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,30]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,30]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.21315\/mjms-01-2025-018","relation":{},"ISSN":["2180-4303","1394-195X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2180-4303","type":"electronic"},{"value":"1394-195X","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,30]]}}}