Study on the Prevalence of Heel Pain among School and College Teachers in and around Kochi

Abstract

:  Plantar heel pain (PHP) is a common, painful condition affecting the heel. Heel pain is when no specific disease or structural cause can be identified to explain the pain. It causes numerous sick days, functional impairment and early retirement. It is also difficult in terms of medical expenses, personal distress and job loss. So, it was essential to conduct a survey on the prevalence of PHP related to occupation and provide the effective means to manage and control it, thereby improving their quality of life

Aim: To find the prevalence of heel pain among school and college teachers in and around Kochi.

Methodology: A total of 110 teachers are participated in this study using conventional sampling. The total duration of study is 3 months. The outcome measures were taken for the study based on the FADI questionnaire.

Result: A total of 110 teachers participated in this study. Teachers’ ages ranged from 25 to 65 years. The mean age was 41.61 ± 8.9 years. Of the 110 participants who took part in this survey, 51 reported mild heel pain (46%), 36 reported moderate heel pain (33%), and 23 reported severe heel pain (21%).

Conclusion: The study reveals there is a high prevalence of PHP pain among teachers. The various demographic factors contributing to PHP were advancing age, female gender and BMI. Increasing BMI and frequent standing do not reduce heel pain. Factors like occupation, work duration, and age have a significant effect in PHP. The most affected teachers were found to be LP teachers. Years of experience and continued working hours were found to be the other major occupational risk factors. They should be advised on preventive measures to avoid further complications.