PLANTAR FASCIITIS

• Commonest cause of pain in the heel. It occurs from the inflammation of plantar Apo neurosis at its attachment on the tuberosity of the calcaneum
• Also called Policeman’s heel
• Patients frequently complain of pain beneath the heel with increased intensity in the early morning which gradually improves with activity

• Most common cause - very tight calf muscles
• Tight Achilles tendon
• Age – active men and women between 40 -70 years of age
• Late pregnancy
• Overweight and obesity
• In long distance runners
• Shoes with poor arch support or soft soles
• Persons with structural foot problems- pescavus/ pesplanus

• Pain beneath the heel first complained of in the early morning which gradually improves with activity
• Pain worsens after inactivity and prolonged weight bearing

Condition is associated with

• Pain
• Swelling
• Warmth of the affected area
• Redness of the adjacent skin

• O/E – marked tenderness just in front of the calcaneal tuberosity on its medial aspect
• X-ray– may show a sharp bony spur projecting from the tuberosity of the calcaneum. It may be a simple association
• Ultrasound – Plantar fascia thickening, oedema at the insertion of calculus

• Analgesics
• Heel cuffs
• Viscous elastic heel pad
• Exercises like- Calf muscle stretch, Plantar fascia specific stretch
• If this does not cure – injection hydrocortisone
• Chisel of the bony spur with division of the plantar fascia

Ayurvedic Treatment

Internal medication

• Punarnavadi kashaya
• Musthadi marma Kashaya
• Rasna sapthaka Kashaya
• Rasna erandadi Kashaya
• Guggulu tiktaka kashaya
• Kaishora guggulu
• Abha guggulu
• Chandraprabha Vati
• Madhuyashtyadi taila

Procedure

• Lepana – Nagaradi choorna , Jadamayadi choorna
• Upanaha - Kolakulathadi
• Dhanya kizhi
• Lavana pinda sweda
• Agni karma
• Dhara - Murivenna