Abstract

Introduction: Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of plantar heel pain. Numerous nonsurgical interventions such as rest exercise and modalities focus on relieving the symptoms associated with plantar heel pain, however orthotics and taping techniques address the underlying problem of poor foot biomechanics. Till date there is scarcity of data investigating the acute effects of attempting to control the position and alignment of the calcaneus during weight bearing through the use of Mulligans taping. Aim of study: To examine the effects of Mulligans taping on the symptoms of plantar heel pain Methodology: Subjects (n= 30) were randomly assigned into 2 groups, A and B (15 subjects each). Group A (control group) received ultrasound, plantar fascia stretching and sham taping. Group B (experimental group) received ultrasound, plantar fascia stretching and Mulligans taping for plantar fasciitis. Outcome measures: Visual analogue scale (VAS) for assessment of pain and Patient specific functional scale (PSFS) for assessment of functional activities. These were assessed pre and post one week of treatment. Results: A significant difference was found post treatment among the groups for VAS (p=0.0265). A highly significant difference was found post treatment among the groups for PSFS (p= 0.0062). There were significant difference found between pre and post VAS and PSFS scores in both experimental and control group. Conclusion: Mulligans taping is shown to be more effective tool for the relief of plantar heel pain than sham taping when given along with conventional physiotherapy.