Abstract
Background: Plantar fasciopathy (PF) is usually related to changes in foot arch, foot shape and rearfoot posture. However, little research has been implemented by using large-scale datasets, and even less has been conducted centering on plantar pressure distributions (PPDs) of different genders of PF athletes. This study aimed to investigate the relationships among the arch index (AI), the PPDs and the rearfoot postural alignment in hundreds of college athletes with PF during static standing and walking. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 100 male and 102 female athletes with PF was undertaken. The PF athletes’ pain assessment and self-reported health status were examined for evaluating their musculoskeletal painful areas. Results: The PF athletes’ PPDs mainly concentrated on inner feet in static standing, and transferred to lateral forefeet during the midstance phase of walking. The males’ PPDs from the static standing to the midstance phase of walking mainly transferred to anterolateral feet. The females’ PPDs mainly transferred to posterolateral feet. The PF athletes’ static rearfoot alignment matched the valgus posture pattern. The medial band of plantar fascia and calcaneus were the common musculoskeletal pain areas. Conclusions: Characteristics of higher plantar loads beneath medial feet associated with rearfoot valgus in bipedal static stance could be the traceable features for PF-related foot diagrams. Higher plantar loads mainly exerted on the lateral forefoot during the midstance phase of walking, and specifically concentrated on outer feet during the transition from static to dynamic state. Pain profiles seem to echo PPDs, which could function as the traceable beginning for the possible link among pronated low-arched feet, PF, metatarsalgia, calcanitis and Achilles tendinitis.
Highlights
Plantar fasciopathy (PF) is considered to be the third most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder in runners [1–3] and characterized by pain at the plantar fascia insertion point [4].Previous study explored the pathogenesis of PF from the athlete’s specific internal and external risk factors [5]
One of the key aims of this study was to establish the overall reliability of the relationships among the arch index (AI), the plantar pressure distributions (PPDs) and the rearfoot postural alignment by using the large-scale datasets of the college athletes with PF during static standing and walking
In order to expand our knowledge of the relationships among the AI, the PPDs, the rearfoot postural alignment, and the pain profiles which caused by PF, the present study examined the causal relationships among these specific factors from hundreds of age-matched PF athletes of both genders during static standing and in midstance phase of walking as well
Summary
Plantar fasciopathy (PF) is considered to be the third most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder in runners [1–3] and characterized by pain at the plantar fascia insertion point [4].Previous study explored the pathogenesis of PF from the athlete’s specific internal and external risk factors [5]. Many studies have shown that changes in medial longitudinal arch (MLA) geometry (lower [7] or higher [9,10]) and the presence of pain in runners with PF may cause increased plantar load [7,8]. This study aimed to investigate the relationships among the arch index (AI), the PPDs and the rearfoot postural alignment in hundreds of college athletes with PF during static standing and walking. Results: The PF athletes’ PPDs mainly concentrated on inner feet in static standing, and transferred to lateral forefeet during the midstance phase of walking. Conclusions: Characteristics of higher plantar loads beneath medial feet associated with rearfoot valgus in bipedal static stance could be the traceable features for PF-related foot diagrams. Higher plantar loads mainly exerted on the lateral forefoot during the midstance phase of walking, and concentrated on outer feet during the transition from static to dynamic state. Pain profiles seem to echo PPDs, which could function as the traceable beginning for the possible link among pronated low-arched feet, PF, metatarsalgia, calcanitis and Achilles tendinitis
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