Effect of gender, age and anthropometric variables on plantar fascia thickness at different locations in asymptomatic subjects

Abstract 

Purpose

The study was aimed to investigate plantar fascia thickness at different locations in healthy asymptomatic subjects and its relationship to the following variables: weight, height, sex and age.

Material and methods

The study evaluates 96 feet of healthy asymptomatic volunteers. The plantar fascia thickness was measured at four different locations: 1cm proximal to the insertion of the plantar fascia, at the insertion of the plantar fascia on the calcaneus and separate out 1cm+2cm distal to the insertion. A 10MHz linear-array transducer was used.

Results

There were statistically significant differences in plantar fascia thickness at the four different locations (p<0.001) although no differences in PF thickness were found between the two distal from insertion locations (1 and 2cm). Multiple regression analysis showed sex as independent predictor of plantar fascia thickness at 1cm proximal to the insertion. At origin and 1cm distal to insertion weight was an independent predictor of plantar fascia thickness.

Conclusions

There are differences of thickness at different locations of plantar fascia measured by ultrasonography. Thickness at 1cm proximal to the insertion is influenced by sex and thickness at origin and at 1cm distal to the insertion has a direct relationship with body weight. This could be attributed to the overloading effect that weight has on plantar fascia in healthy symptomatic subjects at these two locations. Height and age did not seem to influence as independent variables in plantar fascia thickness among non-painful subjects.

Keywords: Plantar fascia thickness, Ultrasonography, Anthropometric variables