MR imaging of abnormalities of the plantar fascia

Foot pain and disability may curtail the performance of simple routine tasks, work-related duties, and athletic activities. Disorders of the plantar fascia are commonly encountered in the diagnostic evaluation of subcalcaneal heel pain. The approach to imaging the ankle and foot has undergone significant amendment with the introduction of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MR imaging allows direct visualization of the plantar fascia and permits a comprehensive evaluation of a wide spectrum of disorders involving the fascia and perifascial structures, including bones, ligaments, musculotendinous units, and intrinsic muscles of the foot. The objectives of our cadaveric and clinical study are to describe the normal MR imaging appearance of the plantar fascia and analyze the signal intensity changes in the fascia and perifascial tissue with conventional MR imaging in symptomatic patients. We present a brief overview of common disease processes involving the plantar fascia that may prove practical for routine imaging evaluation of patients with suspected pathology.