Positive power Doppler signal in plantar fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a multilayered band of fibrous tissue that support and maintain the longitudinal arch of the foot. We report a 34-old obese woman with heel pain for the past 3 years. On physical examination, she presented painful plantar fascia throughout extension of the foot. In addition, a soft painful, mobile nodule was also palpated in the medial aspect of her left heel. An US examination of her left foot showed an increased thickness of her plantar fascia with reduced echogenity, the presence of an effusion and a positive power Doppler signal. Positive US Doppler signal may be helpful in evaluating patients with plantar fasciitis and is suggestive of the presence of active microcirculation.