Table 3 Functional status and pain intensity outcomes of treatment for plantar heel pain. Values are mean ± SD or absolute mean difference (95% CI) for the intention-to-treat (ITT) and the per-protocol (PP) analyses comparing usual podiatric care (uPOD) and usual podiatric care plus physical therapy treatment (uPOD+PT)

61.6 ± 17.5

65.3 ± 13

79.8 ± 14.1

18.2 (13.4 to 23.1)^d

78.4 ± 14.9

13.1 (9.5 to 16.8)^d

3.5 (− 1.6 to 8.5)

0.177

0.349

87.3 ± 17.6

25.7 (20.3 to 31.1)^d

85.2 ± 17.5

20 (15.5 to 24.3)^d

4.5 (− 1.7 to 10.8)

0.153

0.345

90.8 ± 12.4

29.3 (23.7 to 34.9)^d

88.4 ± 16.2

23.2 (19.2 to 27.1)^d

4.3 (−1.0 to 9.6)

0.113

0.368

62.6 ± 16.5

65 ± 13

81 ± 15.1

20.1 (14.4 to 25.7)^d

78 ± 14.9

13 (9.1 to 16.9)^d

5.1 (−0.7 to 11.0)

0.084

0.469

91 ± 12.4

30.1 (25.6 to 34.6)^d

85.1 ± 16.3

20.2 (15.4 to 25.0)^d

7.7 (2.1 to 13.3)^e

0.008

0.684

93.5 ± 11.6

32.6 (27.0 to 38.2)^d

89.5 ± 14.5

24.6 (20.6 to 28.5)^d

5.5 (0.1 to 10.8)^e

0.045

0.533

5.2 ± 1.9

4.9 ± 1.8

2.7 ± 1.5

2.5 (1.9 to 3.1)^d

3.4 ± 1.6

1.5 (1.0 to 1.9)^d

0.9 (0.3 to 1.4)^e

0.003

0.583

1.9 ± 1.8

3.3 (2.5 to 4.0)^d

2.6 ± 2.1

2.3 (1.7 to 2.9)^d

0.7 (−0.05 to 1.5)

0.067

0.412

1.1 ± 1.3

4.1 (3.5 to 4.8)^d

2.1 ± 2.3

2.8 (2.1 to 3.5)^d

1.5 (0.6 to 2.5)^d

0.001

0.557

5.2 ± 2

4.9 ± 1.8

2.7 ± 1.6

2.6 (1.9 to 3.3)^d

3.5 ± 1.6

1.5 (1.0 to 2.0)^d

0.9 (0.2 to 1.6)^e

0.008

0.617

1.3 ± 1.4

4 (3.2 to 4.7)^d

2.6 ± 2

2.4 (1.7 to 3.0)^d

1.3 (0.6 to 2.1)^d

0.001

0.736

0.7 ± 0.9

4.6 (3.9 to 5.3)^d

2 ± 2.2

3 (2.2 to 3.7)^d

1.3 (0.6 to 2.1)^d

0.001

0.702