Differences in impulse distribution in patients with plantar fasciitis

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain.
• Understanding foot loading patterns is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare foot-floor reaction force impulse distribution in patients with plantar fasciitis versus healthy individuals.
• To investigate potential biomechanical markers for plantar fasciitis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Tekscan's F-Scan system to measure vertical foot-floor reaction forces.
• Analyzed impulse distribution across the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot.
• Compared data from 40 barefoot patients with plantar fasciitis and 40 healthy controls.

Main Results:

• Patients with plantar fasciitis exhibited significantly reduced loading on the hindfoot and midfoot compared to controls.
• A significantly greater proportion of the load was borne by the forefoot in the patient group.
• Statistical significance was observed for midfoot (P < 0.001) and forefoot (P = 0.002) comparisons.

Conclusions:

• Altered foot loading, specifically increased forefoot pressure, is a characteristic biomechanical feature in plantar fasciitis.
• Objective biomechanical analysis using pressure mapping systems can serve as a diagnostic aid.
• This method may help identify individuals predisposed to plantar fasciitis and evaluate treatment effectiveness.