Table 4.

Follow up, compliance and details of harmful effects

	DiGiovanni et al [15]	Hyland et al [17]	Porter et al [14]	Radford et al [19]	Sharma and Loudon [20]	Wynne et al [18]
Follow up (weeks)	8	1 (0 & 1)	4 months (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4)	2 weeks (0 & 2)	12 (0, 4, 8 & 12)	10 (0, 3, intervals to 8-10)
Compliance	Exercise logs provided but not collected for analysis. Questioning: n = 1 in plantar fascia stretch group and n = 4 in Achilles stretch group stopped stretching at 8 weeks	All interventions applied by Therapist	Sustained stretching group: 74.5% (SD 18.4) of stretches completed. Intermittent group: 81.2% (SD 20.6) of stretches completed. p = 0.2175	Daily journal kept by all participants. Details of compliance not stated	Not measured.	Not applicable as stretch applied by Therapist.
Drop-outs	Overall 18.8% (n = 19). Plantar fascia stretching group 9.8% (n = 5). Tendo Achilles Stretching group 28% (n = 14).	Overall = 2% (n = 1). Group obtaining the drop-out not specified	Overall 21% (n = 28) Sustained stretching group 6.0% (n = 14). Intermittent stretching group 35.0% (n = 14). Control group 0%	0% (n = 0)	Overall 24% (n = 4), Stretching 12.5% (n = 1), Splint 33% (n = 3)	Overall 5% (n = 1) Crossover trial therefore drop-out not specific to a single group
Reasons for dropping-out	Not stated	Not stated	Requested injection or surgery. Unwilling to travel. Other medical disorders. (no break-down provided)	Not applicable	Not known.	Subject failed to record data fully, results therefore discarded.
Reports of harmful effects	Not stated	No adverse effects from taping. No statement about stretching	Not stated	Stretching group: Increased heel pain (n = 4), Calf pain (n = 4). New lower--limb pain (n = 2). Control group: nil	None reported.	Not stated