Reduction in plantar heel pain and a return to sport after a barefoot running intervention in a female triathlete with plantar fasciitis.

Patient characteristics: In a 27 year-old female triathlete, magnetic resonance imaging revealed mild thickening and oedema at the calcaneal insertion of the plantar fascia in keeping with a degree of plantar fasciitis. Intervention: After 6 weeks of conservative treatment failed to elicit a return to sport, the patient engaged in 6 sessions of barefoot running (15 – 30 minutes) on a soft grass surface, without further conservative treatment. Comparative outcome: After two sessions of barefoot running the patient was pain free before, during and after running. This outcome was maintained at the 6 week follow up period. Interpretation: This is the first case report to use barefoot running as a treatment strategy for chronic heel pain. Barefoot running has the potential to reduce the load on the plantar fascia and warrants further investigation using a case series.