Objectives: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a degenerative syndrome of the plantar fascia resulting from repeated trauma at its origin on the calcaneus.5 PF is reported to be the most common cause of inferior heel pain in adults.6 Overload causes micro-tears at the fascia-bone interface of the calcaneus or within the substance of the plantar fascia alone. The central band of the plantar fascia is primarily affected where a hyper cellular, inflammatory response occurs within the fibres of the fascia, leading to degenerative changes. The site of abnormality is typically near the site of origin of the plantar fascia at the medial tube rosity of the calcaneus. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of plantar fascia and Tendo Achilles stretch in chronic plantar fasciitis patients. Methods : A sample of 30 subjects, age between 25-35 years, both male and females, as per inclusion and exclusion criteria, from SSSMC and and Dr. K.K.B.M. Subharti Hospital, Dehradun and OPD of Physiotherapy, School of Medical and Allied Sciences, Greater Noida were included in the study. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The subjects were assessed and there Pre VAS and S.D. was recorded (during first few steps in morning) and then Group – A was treated with plantar fascia stretching and the calf massage and Group- B was treated with Tendo Achilles stretching and the calf massage. After 8 weeks Post VAS and S.D. was again recorded and compared. Results: The data of Pre VAS Score, Post VAS Score and S.D. for both Group (A and B), was recorded on the base of pain on first walking in the morning on day 1st and after 8th week. The detailed statistical analysis shows the improvement in both the Groups A and B. The overall more improvement was found in the Group- A in which planter fascia stretching with calf muscle massage was delivered to the patients. Which shows the significant improvement in chronic plantar fasciitis subjects. The mean scores of Pre VAS and S.D. and Post VAS and S.D. of Group - A, was 5.46 ± 1.02 and 0.93 ± 0.57 and the mean scores of Pre VAS and S.D. and Post VAS and S.D. of Group - B, was 5.27 ± 0.99 and 1.86 ± 0.71 on day 1st and after at 8th week respectively. The paired “t” test was applied to test the significant difference between day 1st and after at 8th week. A significant P - Value of <.001* was found in both the Groups A and B when the comparison was done with the mean score of pre VAS and S.D. and post VAS and S.D. on after at 8th week. Which shows the significant improvement in pain in both the groups but improvement in pain was more in Group-A than the Group-B to whom the tissue specific stretching of Planter fascia was given with the calf massage in Chronic Planter Fasciitis subjects. Conclusions: The results of this study indicates that there is significant improvement in the VAS score of the Group –A and B. But the results of the Group A was more effective than the group B to whom the tissue specific stretching of planter fascia was given with the calf massage.

Keywords: Plantar fascia; Plantar fasciitis; Tendo Achilles stretch; Plantar Fascia stretch; Plantar Fascia Massage; VAS; Windlass mechanism