Functional Strength Training and Kinesiotaping, With and Without Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Fibular (Peroneal) Neuropathy

NCT07191301 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: Sumayah Farooq
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Fibular neuropathy frequently manifests as foot drop, muscle weakness, altered gait, and sensory loss, all of which severely reduce mobility and quality of life. There is still uncertainty regarding the efficacy of kinesio taping (KT), proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), and functional strength training (FST) in combination. Although PNF improves neuromuscular coordination, KT provides proprioceptive input, and FST increases strength and mobility, there are no set treatment guidelines and little research has compared these modalities. In order to contribute to evidence-based rehabilitation techniques for people with fibular neuropathy, this study attempts to assess whether adding PNF to FST and KT improves functional outcomes compared to FST and KT alone.

Conditions

Peroneal Neuropathy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in dorsiflexor muscle strength measured by Manual Muscle Grading (MMG)

  Baseline (Week 0), Mid-point (Week 4), and Post-intervention (Week 8)

Study Arms (2)

Interventional Group A

EXPERIMENTAL

Functional Strength Training (FST) + Kinesio Taping (KT) with Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF).

Behavioral: Functional Strength Training, Kinesio Taping, and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation; Behavioral: Functional Strength Training and Kinesio Taping

Control Group B

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Functional Strength Training (FST) + Kinesio Taping (KT) without PNF.

Behavioral: Functional Strength Training, Kinesio Taping, and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation; Behavioral: Functional Strength Training and Kinesio Taping

Interventions

Functional Strength Training, Kinesio Taping, and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation BEHAVIORAL

Participants will undergo 8 weeks of supervised treatment, 3 sessions per week (24 sessions). Each session includes a warm-up with stretches, range-of-motion exercises, and Functional Strength Training (mini hops, stair climbing, ramp walking, sit-to-stand). Kinesio Taping will be applied from the foot's dorsum along the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus with 25-50% stretch for ankle support and dorsiflexor facilitation, re-applied every 3-4 days. In addition, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) lower-limb D1 flexion/extension patterns with manual resistance will be performed in 3 sets of 5 repetitions, lasting 35-40 minutes per session.

Control Group B; Interventional Group A

Functional Strength Training and Kinesio Taping BEHAVIORAL

Participants will undergo 8 weeks of supervised treatment, 3 sessions per week (24 sessions). Each session includes a warm-up with stretches, range-of-motion exercises, and Functional Strength Training (mini hops, stair climbing, ramp walking, sit-to-stand). Kinesio Taping will be applied from the foot's dorsum along the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus with 25-50% stretch for ankle support and dorsiflexor facilitation, re-applied every 3-4 days. No PNF techniques will be applied.

Control Group B; Interventional Group A

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Adults (18-35 years old) are diagnosed with fibular neuropathy due to trauma or compression.
• Patients with muscle weakness, impaired balance and abnormal gait.
• Both Male and female participants will be included.
• Patients who test positive to the drag or slap test will be considered positive if the patient have difficulty in lifting the forefoot while walking, leading to dragging of the toes or compensatory hip/knee movements.

You may not qualify if:

• Recent foot or ankle surgery (\<6 months).
• Complete loss of nerve supply
• Severe musculoskeletal or neurological conditions (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, myopathies, severe osteoarthritis, severe compression, progressive neuropathies, severe balance and fall risk, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and peripheral vascular diseases).
• Allergies to Kinesio tape materials.
• Patients who are not psychologically fit such as those who have undergone trauma and patients with severe psychological disorders (major depressive disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia) will be excluded if they have had a diagnosis within the last 6 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore: lead

Study Sites (1)

UIPT, UOL, Lahore

Lahore, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Peroneal Neuropathies

Interventions

Muscle Stretching Exercises

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mononeuropathies; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principle Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 17, 2025
• First Posted: September 24, 2025
• Study Start: August 10, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 10, 2025
• Study Completion: December 30, 2025
• Last Updated: March 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)