COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUE AND COUNTERSTRAIN TECHNIQUE ON PAIN, FUNCTION STATUS AND SATISFACTION LEVEL IN PLANTER FASCIITIS PATIENTS

Objective: To compare the effects of muscle energy technique and counterstrain technique on pain, functional status and satisfaction level in patients with planter fasciitis. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted from May to November 2022. Total 66 patients were recruited using purposive sampling technique. Clinically diagnosed patients of plantar fasciitis of age 20-60 years, both gender and history of pain?4 weeks were randomly allocated into two groups. Muscle energy technique was applied to group A and Counterstrain technique was given to Group B with routine physiotherapy. Outcomes measure were Visual Analog Scales for pain, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure for functional level and Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 for satisfaction level. Assessment was conducted at baseline, 1st and 2ndweek. Independent t-test and RM-ANOVA was used for between and within-group differences with p?0.05 was significant. Results: The results showed no significant difference between Group A and Group B in pain (p=0.245), functional status (ADL: p=0.862, Sport: p=0.092) and satisfaction level (p=0.108). However, significant within-group difference was observed with pain (p=0.000), functional status (p=0.000) and general satisfaction level (p=0.000). Conclusion: Muscle Energy and Counterstrain Technique are equally beneficial in decreasing pain, enhancing functional status and patient satisfaction level in plantar fasciitis patients. Keywords: Counterstrain Technique; Functional Status; Foot and ankle ability measure; Muscle energy technique; Pain; Planter fasciitis; Satisfaction Level; Visual analog scale