Vatakantaka and its management through Ayurveda- A Case review.

Abstract

Vatakantaka is characterized by pain in the heel region and included in Vatavyadhi by Acharya Sushruta. It causes due to silent and repeated injury resulting into inflammation of plantar fascia which results in the painful heel. It is a common cause of heel pain occurs in about 10% of the general population. Women are twice more prevalent than men. Vatakantaka is mainly caused due to vitiation of Vatadosha and continuous pressure on the heel region. It can be correlated with Chronic planter fasciitis or Calcaneal spur. It is more prevalent in female gender and having Sthul akruti (obesity). Various chikitsa measures for management of Vatakantaka are given in classics of Ayurveda. Here bahya and abhyantar chikitsa with Agnikarma gives improvement in subjective criteria like vedana (pain), stambha (stiffness), shotha (swelling) and kriyahani (restricted movements) in short duration of time.