Effectiveness of Myofascial Release Versus Neural Mobilization in Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Activity in Patients with Plantar Fasciitis

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental design (pretest – posttest design with comparative treatment) BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY: Plantar fasciitis or plantar heel pain is a painful inflammatory condition that affects the posterior surface of the sole of the foot. It affects about 10% of the population in the life time. Incidence of the plantar fasciitis peaks between age of 40 to 60 years with no bias towards either sex. Myofascial release is a form of manual therapy approach that involves the application of a low load, long duration stretches to the myofascial complex intended to restore optimal length decrease pain and improve function. Neural mobilization or neurodynamics is a movement-based intervention aimed to restoring the homeostatic in and around the nervous system. OBJECTIVES: This study is to compare the effectiveness of myofascial release versus neural mobilization in pain, range of motion and functional activity in patients with plantar fasciitis. STUDY SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore. PARTICIPANTS: 28 patients with plantar fasciitis were participated in this study. INTERVENTION: Included individuals were randomly assigned to receive 2 weeks treatment program on myofascial release and neural mobilization MEASUREMENTS: Numeric pain rating scale for measuring plantar pain, Goniometer for measuring ankle dorsiflexion, plantar flexion and great toe extension, Functional Foot Index for measuring foot function. RESULTS: Subjects receiving MFR shows that there is an improvement in pain, ROM except great toe extension and functional activity after 2 weeks of intervention compared with neural mobilization. CONCLUSION: So, we conclude that the Myofascial release is effective in reducing pain, improving range of motion and functional activity in patients with plantar fasciitis compared to neural mobilization. KEY WORDS: Plantar fasciitis (PF), Plantar Heel Pain (PHP), Self Myofascial Release (SMR), Myofascial Release (MFR), Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Foot Function Index (FFI)