Foot mobility and plantar fascia elasticity in patients with plantar fasciitis.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we investigated the radiologic changes of feet in sagittal plane under weightbearing either with or without plantar fasciitis.

METHODS

The study includes 64 feet of the 42 subjects with heel pain (Group 1: 32 women, 10 men, mean age 48 years, range 33-57 years) and 80 feet of the 40 patients (Group 2: 30 women, 10 men, mean age 47.2 years, range 35-56 years) without heel pain. Calcaneal inclination angle (CIA), calcaneal-first metatarsal angle (CMA), and plantar fascia length (PFL) were measured in the lateral radiographs of the weightbearing and non-weightbearing foot. The values of Group 1 and Group 2 were compared.

RESULTS

The mean CIA was 26° (range 18-35°), CMA was 121° (range 115-133°), and PFL was 131 mm (range 110-158 mm) in non-weightbearing position for Group 1. The mean CIA was 27° (range 17-38°), CMA was 122° (range 110-135°), and PFL was 136 mm (range 120-155 mm) in non-weightbearing position for Group 2. The mean CIA was 13.6° (range 5-25°), CMA was 138° (range 130-153°), and PFU was 143.8 mm (range 118-158 mm) in weightbearing position for Group 1. The mean CIA was 9.9° (range 4-25°), CMA was 145° (range 130-155°), and PFU was 151.4 mm (range 137-167 mm) in weightbearing position for Group 2. The difference between CIA, CMA, and PFL values were -13°, 17°, and 12 mm under condition of weightbearing and nonweightbearing position values for Group 1; and -17°, 23°, and 15 mm for Group 2. The differences were significant between weightbearing and non-weightbearing position values (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The reduced CIA, CMA, and PFL changes during weight bearing might show reduced foot mobility and plantar fascia elasticity, which may lead to posterior heel pain syndrome.