Abstract
Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common condition found in men and women and can reoccur throughout life. PF is commonly diagnosed by prolonged foot pain lasting more than 3 months and a plantar fascia over 0.4 mm thick, as measured using ultrasound imaging. This study examined the ability to balance and the occurrence of muscle tremor during different balance tasks in patients with PF compared to their control counterparts. Fifty subjects (25 patients with PF and 25 control subjects) participated in this study. Subjective pain (measured with a visual analog scale (VAS)), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and postural sway and tremor during eight different balance tasks were measured. Postural sway was measured by a balance platform, while tremor was measured as the mechanical movement of the platform in the 8 Hz frequency range. Thickness of plantar fascia, subjective pain, and PPT were significantly greater in the PF group compared to the controls (p < 0.001). Postural sway and 8 Hz tremor were significantly greater in the PF group compared to the control group for all eight balance tasks (p < 0.01). These results indicate that the lack of plantar fascia elasticity is probably the cause of the reduced balance and increased muscle tremor.
Highlights
While most muscles in the calf insert on the calcaneus, power is transferred across the foot and to the toes by a thick band of tissue that originates at the medial tuberosity of the calcaneus and inserts into the proximal phalanges [1]
These results indicate that the lack of plantar fascia elasticity is probably the cause of the reduced balance and increased muscle tremor
The plantar fascia can become inflamed at any time in life [3,4]; this is commonly due to age, high body mass index (BMI), and overuse such as might occur in athletes [5,6]
Summary
While most muscles in the calf insert on the calcaneus, power is transferred across the foot and to the toes by a thick band of tissue that originates at the medial tuberosity of the calcaneus and inserts into the proximal phalanges [1]. This tissue, the plantar fascia, is divided into five fascicles, one extending to each of the toes [2]. While pain is indicative of PF, the thickness, when measured 0.5 cm from the calcaneus insertion of the plantar fascia, is normally 0.4 mm or less in healthy individuals and greater than 0.4 mm in individuals with PF [8,9]
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