EFFECT OF POSITIONAL RELEASE TECHNIQUE AND ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUE IN SELECTIVE BIOMECHANICAL CHANGES AND FUNCTION OF FOOT AMONG SUBJECTS WITH PLANTAR FASCIITIS- A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Background: Heel pain interferes with everyday activities is often caused by plantar fasciitis. We evaluated the impact of symptoms on people's quality of life. Characterizing the primary functional limitations and determining the frequency of moderate to severe PF symptoms in patients receiving treatment at particular institutions in Kollam district, Kerala. Methods: The study was designed as an experimental, comparative pre–post type and was conducted at ACS Hospital at Chennai and PNNM Hospital, Kollam, Kerala, on subjects clinically diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. A total of 15 subjects within the age group of 30-60 years were selected using a simple random sampling method (lottery method) and equally divided into three groups of five participants each. The overall study duration was three months, during which the intervention was administered for one month. The treatment was administered for 30 minutes per day, three days per week, and for a total of four weeks. Follow-up measurements were taken after eight weeks to evaluate the sustained effects of the intervention.. The collected data were analyzed using dependent t test, ANOVA and post hoc to evaluate the outcomes of the study. Results: Group A showed better outcomes compared to Groups B and C after the follow-up. Group A had the lowest mean fascia thickness (4.20 mm), highest pain pressure threshold (4.96 kg/cm²), and lowest FFI score (29.60%), indicating better functional recovery. In contrast, Group C showed the highest fascia thickness (5.02 mm), lowest pain threshold (2.32 kg/cm²), and highest disability (44.80%). X-ray pitch angle was lowest in Group A (16.54°) and highest in Group C (18.04°). Conclusion: The intervention in Group A was found to be more effective in reducing fascia thickness, improving pain tolerance, and enhancing foot function in plantar fasciitis patients compared to Groups B and C.