Volume : 11, Issue : 6, JUN 2025

COMBINED EFFECT OF RELEASE OF HAMSTRING AND CALF MUSCLES ALONG WITH LASER AND ULTRASOUND THERAPY IN PLANTAR FASCIITIS PATIENTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

DR. PRIYABRATA MISHRA, PT, M.PHYSIO

Abstract

Background: Plantar fasciitis is a connective tissue disorder affecting the plantar fascia, characterized by collagen degeneration at the calcaneal tuberosity origin. This condition results in characteristic heel pain, most severe with the first step of the day, exacerbated by ankle dorsiflexion and toe extension movements. This study compares the efficacy of combined hamstring and calf muscle release with LASER and ultrasound therapy versus modality-based therapy alone.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of combined hamstring and calf muscle release with Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and ultrasound therapy (UST) in plantar fasciitis patients compared to LASER and ultrasound therapy alone.

Methods: A comparative pre-post design study was conducted at Manipal Hospital Physiotherapy Out-Patient Department, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Forty patients (20 per group) aged 20-60 years with diagnosed plantar fasciitis were enrolled. Group A (n=20) received hamstring and calf muscle release combined with LASER therapy and ultrasound therapy 3 days per week for 4 weeks. Group B (n=20) received LASER and ultrasound therapy alone with identical frequency and duration. Pain was assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and functional status using Foot Function Index (FFI).

Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement (p<0.05). Group A achieved superior outcomes with mean VAS difference of 4.137 (95% CI: 3.2-5.1) and FFI mean difference of 39.20 (95% CI: 35.6-42.8) at 4 weeks post-intervention. Group A achieved 69.5% pain reduction compared to 47.5% in Group B.

Conclusion: The integration of hamstring and calf muscle release with LASER and ultrasound therapy provides superior pain reduction and functional improvement in plantar fasciitis patients compared to modality therapy alone. The synergistic combination of manual therapy with photobiomodulation and mechanical energy transduction represents an evidence-based first-line conservative treatment approach.

Keywords

PLANTAR FASCIITIS, MYOFASCIAL RELEASE, HAMSTRING RELEASE, CALF RELEASE, LASER THERAPY, LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY, ULTRASOUND THERAPY, MANUAL THERAPY, VISUAL ANALOGUE SCALE, FOOT FUNCTION INDEX, CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT, MULTIMODAL THERAPY.

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IESRJ

International Educational Scientific Research Journal

E-ISSN: 2455-295X

International Indexed Journal | Multi-Disciplinary Refereed Research Journal

ISSN: 2455-295X

Peer-Reviewed Journal - Equivalent to UGC Approved Journal

Peer-Reviewed Journal

Article No : 20

Number of Downloads : 72

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