Risk factors for plantar talalgia in nonathletes: a case-control study

A variety of factors have been considered as contributing to plantar talalgia pain syndromes. This study was designed to explore a series of possible contributors to the etiology of plantar talalgia (PT) specifically in nonathletes. The influence of body mass index (BMI), SCFP thickness and compressibility index, plantar and heel surface area, BMI/heel area ratio, heel-lifting device utilization, a standing job, heel malalignment, and a calcaneal spur (CS) over the risk of developing PT was analyzed by a case-control design. Eighty-five cases were compared with 58 controls of similar age and sex. After logistic regression analysis, only CS (relative risk 2.5 95%, CI 1.1-6) associated with PT, whereas other biomechanical, lifestyle, and clinical variables were not as clearly associated with PT risk in those nonathletes studied here. Our results suggest that a reappraisal of some factors previously thought to increase risk or suggest therapeutic manipulations for plantar talalgia in nonathletes is needed.