Correlation between Vitamin D and Heel Pain in Healthy Adults During Covid-19 in South Gujarat: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D is been traditionally known as anti-ricketic factor or sunshine vitamin. Vitamin D is
a fat-soluble vitamin and its synthesis in the body is dependent on multiple factors like latitude, atmospheric
pollution, clothing, skin pigmentation duration and time of exposure to sunlight. Assessment of vitamin D status
of an individual is best reflected by measurement of circulating vitamin D metabolites. 2 metabolites S, namely
25, hydroxyvitamin D 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D. Exposure to sunlight is responsible for physiological production
of vitamin D endogenously in the skin from 7 dehydrocholesterol present in the subcutaneous fat. Vitamin D
deficiency prevails in epidemic proportion all over the India subcontinent with a prevalence of 70%-100% in the
general population. Association of vitamin D deficiency with a variety of nonspecific bone pain particularly in
women. Vitamin D deficiency was recently suggested to trigger chronic disease. Planter heel pain is a common
musculoskeletal foot disorder that can have a negative impact on activities of daily living and it is of multifactorial
etiology. Pathogenesis of planter heel pain is considered to be excessive cumulative strain at the enthesis of
the plantar facia. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increased in inflammatory cytokines and
a significantly increased risk of pneumonia viral upper respiratory tract infections. Experimental reports have
shown vitamin D has a role in reducing the risk of COVID-19 including consideration of the fact that the outbreak
occurred in winter and the fact the vitamin D deficiency contributes to acute respiratory distress syndrome and
case-fatality rates increased with age and with chronic disease co-morbidity, both of which are associated with a
lower 1,25(OH)2D co-contraction.
Aim of Study: Aim of the study is to find correlation between vitamin D and heel pain in healthy adults.
Objective: To determine if there is correlation between vitamin D and heel pain in healthy adults.
Materials and Methods: 108 patients were assessed using NPRS for heel pain and also assessed for Vitamin D
using lap reports in south Gujarat. The method of the sampling was convenient. All the subjects were familiarized
about the whole procedure.
Results: The result showed negative correlation (p=0.023) between vitamin D and heel pain in healthy adults.
The subjects used in the study was male and female age of 15 to 60. Lab reports was used to check vitamin D and
NPRS was used to assess the heel pain. The level of the significance is 0.023 (<0.05) for vitamin D and heel pain.
Conclusion: The result of the study showed negative correlation between heel pain and vitamin D in healthy
adults. By increasing the sun exposure and intake of vitamin D medicine heel pain can be decreased in healthy
adults. For clinical purpose, physical therapist can advise the patient who have heel pain to go for vitamin D
testing.