Rearfoot eversion has indirect effects on plantar fascia tension by changing the amount of arch collapse

Abstract

Background Rearfoot eversion motion and arch height are believed to contribute to increased tension on the plantar fascia and arch collapse during gait but the specifics of these relationships are not clear. Objective To examine the relationships among static arch height, rearfoot eversion, dynamic arch height, and plantar fascia tension. Methods 28 healthy males participated. After static arch height was measured, the subjects were asked to run at 4.5 m/s while frontal plane rearfoot motion, dynamic arch height, and ground reaction forces were collected. The relationships among variables were examined with bivariate correlations and path analysis. Results The results indicated a high correlation between dynamic arch height and static arch height ( r = 0.642), plantar fascia tension ( r = −0.797), and maximum rearfoot eversion motion during gait ( r = −0.518). The path analysis model without the direct rearfoot eversion effect explained 81.2% of the variance in plantar fascia tension, while the model with the direct rearfoot eversion effect explained 82.1% of the variance in plantar fascia tension. Discussion Including the indirect effect of maximum rearfoot eversion motion on plantar fascia tension through control of dynamic arch height is the model that best explains the interrelationships of these foot characteristics. Conclusion The amount of maximum rearfoot eversion motion itself is not a good predictor of plantar fascia tension, however, together with the arch height, maximum rearfoot eversion motion is a good predictor because it has a pronounced indirect effect on plantar fascia tension.