COMPARISION OF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE AND

POSITIONAL RELEASE THERAPY IN PLANTAR

FASCIITIS – A CLINICAL TRAIL

ABSTRACT :

BACKGROUND :
 Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of foot pain. Plantar fasciitis has been
experienced by 10% of the population. Degenerative changes can cause acute and
chronic inflammation, may also cause calcification at the origin of the plantar fascia and
bony traction spur formation.
 In the presence of aggravating factors the repetitive movement of walking or running
can cause micro – tears in the plantar fascia. The affected site is frequently near the
origin of the plantar fascia at the medial tuberosity of the calcaneus.
 Plantar fasciitis is often characterized by progressive pain with weight bearing,
especially the few steps in the mornings. Patients suffering from plantar fasciitis typically
present with inferior heel pain on weight bearing and the pain often persist for months
or even years.
 Pain associated with plantar fasciitis may e throbbing, searing or piercing, especially with
the first few steps in the morning or After periods of inactivity.
 Various physiotherapy treatment protocols have been advocated in the past such as rest,
tapping, Orthosis night splint, silicon heel cubs, stretching , myofascial release and
positional release therapy.

OBJECTIVE:
To compare the effectiveness of myofascial release and positional release therapy in
Plantar fasciitis.

PURPOSE OF STUDY:
To study the effectiveness of myofascial release therapy and positional release therapy
in chronic Plantar fasciitis on pain and functional ability.
 METHODOLOGY
STUDY TYPE :
Comparative study.

STUDY DESIGN :
A clinical trail.

STUDY SETTING :
Department of Physiotherapy OPD,

GMCH,
Chidambaram.

STUDY DURATION :
More than 3MONTHS.

SAMPLE SIZE :
30 Subjects (15 in each group).

SAMPLING METHOD :
Convenient sampling.

INCLUSION CRITERIA :
I. Age between 18 to 65 years.
II. Participants with clinical diagnosis of chronic Plantar fasciitis.
III. Duration of more than 3 months
IV. Those who are willing to participate in the study.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA :
I. Clinical disorder where therapeutic ultrasound is contraindicated.
II. Subjects with clinical disorder where myofascial release is contraindicated such as
dermatitis.
III. Ankle ankylosis, congenital foot deformities, arthritis.
IV. Corticosteroid injection in heel in past 3 months.
V. Neurological pain like Sciatica.
VI. Subjects unwilling to participate in the study.
PROCEDURE :
All the participants with clinical diagnosed as plantar fasciitis were screened after finding their
suitability as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria were requested to participate in the study and were
briefed about the nature of the study and the intervention.

Following, the study population are divided into two groups

 Group A (n=15) - Conventional treatment + Myofascial release by using thumb, plantar

cupping by using heel of hand and finger technique for 10 minutes
 Group B (n=15) - Conventional treatment + Positional Release technique in tender points
for 90 seconds with 3 repetitions.
CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT :
 Ultrasound therapy
 Strengthening exercises for intrinsic muscles

OUTCOME MEASURING TOOL :

I. Visual analogue scale :

It is a measurement that tries to measure a characteristics or attitude that is

believed to range across a continuum of values and cannot easily be directly
measured. It is often used in epidemiologic and clinical research to measure
intensity of frequency of various symptoms.

II. Foot function index :

A measure of foot pain and disability

KEYWORDS :
Plantar fasciitis, myofascial release, position release therapy, manual therapy,
strengthening exercises.