Yoga as a noninvasive rehabilitative strategy for calcaneal spur: A case study

A BSTRACT Plantar heel spur is the calcific projection on the underside of the heel bone, often associated with chronic heel pain and gait abnormalities, significantly impacting a patient’s quality of life. Conventional methods provide symptomatic relief while holistic interventions such as yoga offer a multidimensional approach to recovery. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of a tailored 120-day yoga intervention on a 55-year-old obese female presenting with a symptomatic calcaneal spur and associated gait imbalances. The patient underwent a hybrid protocol (15 days inpatient, 120 days online) based on Hatha Yogic principles, including Jala-neti , Sukshma-vyayama , targeted Asanas , and pranayama . Assessment tools included the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, OMPA, short-form (SF)-12, and Trendelenburg gait analysis. Postintervention scores showed a significant functional recovery, with the AOFAS score rising from 53 to 97 and VAS decreasing from 9 to 2. Biomechanical improvements were marked by the correction of a 15° pelvic tilt to 0° and an increase in Trendelenburg stability from 3 to 20 s. Quality of life (SF-12) and psychological distress also showed substantial improvement. This case highlights the potential of yoga-based interventions in addressing chronic heel pain and correcting biomechanical misalignments, proving to be a viable noninvasive rehabilitative approach for calcaneal spur management.