Role of viddha-agnikarma in chronic plantar fasciitis- A Case Study

Abstract

Chronic plantar fasciitis is a common condition that causes pain under the heel particularly during walking. Sometimes a bony spur may be seen at the attachment of the plantar fascia. Pain associated with this condition may cause substantial disability and poor health related quality of life. Those affected can also have significant limitations in daily routine activities. The prevalence and prognosis are unclear but found in patients of middle aged groups. It is more often seen in men between 40 to 60 years of age. Treatment with analgesics, use of heel-pad and steroids injection but they do not give permanent cure for the disease and have side effects, complications and are costly to afford by common man. Vatakantaka described by Acharya Sushruta has similar symptoms as of plantar fasciitis. Vatakantaka is Snayu Asthi Sandhi ashrita so should be treated on the similar line of treatment and can effectively be managed with Agnikarma. In this study a case of chronic plantar fasciitis was treated by Viddha-agnikarma which gave satisfactory results.

Keywords

• Chronic plantar fasciitis
• Viddha-agnikarma
• Heel pain
• Vatakantaka