EFFECTIVENESS OF ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUE WITH LOWER LIMB STRENGTHENING FOR THE TREATMENT OF PLANTAR FASCITIS
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Keywords
Plantar fasciitis, Active Release Technique (ART), Lower limb strengthening (LLS), Manual therapy, Foot Function Index (FFI), Pain relief, Therapeutic ultrasound.
Abstract
Introduction: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common musculoskeletal disorder characterized by degenerative changes in the plantar fascia, leading to significant heel pain and functional impairment. Conventional treatments often fail to address both the soft tissue restrictions and biomechanical deficiencies that contribute to the condition. Active Release Technique (ART), a manual therapy targeting myofascial adhesions, and lower limb strengthening exercises have individually shown efficacy, but their combined effects are underexplored.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combining Active Release Technique (ART) with lower limb strengthening (LLS) in reducing pain and improving foot function in patients with plantar fasciitis, compared to ART alone.
Methods: This was an Experimental Study. Thirty participants aged 30–40 years with clinically diagnosed plantar fasciitis were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (ART + LLS) and Group B (ART only). Both groups received therapeutic ultrasound as an adjunct. The interventions were administered 4 times per week for 4 weeks. Pain and function were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Foot Function Index (FFI), respectively. Data were analyzed using paired and independent sample t-tests.
Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in NPRS and FFI scores (p < 0.05). However, Group A (ART + LLS) demonstrated superior results. Group A's NPRS score decreased from 9.13±0.63 to 1.46±0.51, and FFI decreased from 84.25±8.04 to 24.53±5.15. Between-group comparison confirmed statistically greater improvements in Group A (NPRS: p = 0.0035; FFI: p = 0.0078).
Conclusion: The combined intervention of Active Release Technique with lower limb strengthening significantly enhances pain relief and functional recovery in plantar fasciitis patients compared to ART alone. This multimodal approach addresses both soft tissue restrictions and muscular imbalances, supporting its clinical application in conservative PF management.
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Kartik Sharma
Department of Physiotherapy Institute of Applied Medicine and Research (IAMR), Duhai, Ghaziabad.
Dr. Vaishali Chaudhary
Associate Professor, Department, Institute of Applied Medicines and Research (IAMR), Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Dr. Monika Sharma
Professor and Head of Physiotherapy, Department, Institute of Applied Medicines and Research (IAMR), Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.