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 Foot/Ankle Test 2: Treatment of Inflammation and Deformity
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The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) 85:872-877 (2003)
© 2003 The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.

Scientific Article

Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis: A Matched Case-Control Study

Daniel L. Riddle, PT, PhD, Matthew Pulisic, PT, OCS, Peter Pidcoe, PT, PhD and Robert E. Johnson, PhD

Investigation performed at the Department of Physical Therapy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia

Daniel L. Riddle, PT, PhD
Peter Pidcoe, PT, PhD
Robert E. Johnson, PhD
Department of Physical Therapy (D.L.R. and P.P.) and Departments of Biostatistics and Family Practice (R.E.J.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298. E-mail address for D.L. Riddle: dlriddle{at}vcu.edu

Matthew Pulisic, PT, OCS
Richmond Physical Therapy, 3805 Cutshaw Avenue, Suite 299, Richmond, VA 23230

In support of their research or preparation of this manuscript, one or more of the authors received grants or outside funding from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. None of the authors received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity. No commercial entity paid or directed, or agreed to pay or direct, any benefits to any research fund, foundation, educational institution, or other charitable or nonprofit organization with which the authors are affiliated or associated.

Background: Plantar fasciitis is one of the more common soft-tissue disorders of the foot, yet little is known about its etiology. The purpose of the present study was to use an epidemiological design to determine whether risk factors for plantar fasciitis could be identified. Specifically, we examined the risk factors of limited ankle dorsiflexion with the knee extended, obesity, and time spent weight-bearing.

Methods: We used a matched case-control design, with two controls for each patient. The matching criteria were age and gender. We identified fifty consecutive patients with unilateral plantar fasciitis who met the inclusion criteria. The data that were collected included height, weight, whether the subject spent the majority of the workday weight-bearing, and whether the subject was a jogger or runner. We used a reliable goniometric method to measure passive ankle dorsiflexion bilaterally. The main outcome measure was the adjusted odds ratio of plantar fasciitis associated with varying degrees of limitation of ankle dorsiflexion, different levels of body mass, and the subjects' reports on weight-bearing.

Results: Individuals with <=0° of dorsiflexion had an odds ratio of 23.3 (95% confidence interval, 4.3 to 124.4) when compared with the referent group of individuals who had >10° of ankle dorsiflexion. Individuals who had a body-mass index of >30 kg/m 2 had an odds ratio of 5.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.9 to 16.6) when compared with the referent group of individuals who had a body-mass index of <=25 kg/m 2 . Individuals who reported that they spent the majority of their workday on their feet had an odds ratio of 3.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 10.1) when compared with the referent group of those who did not.

Conclusions: The risk of plantar fasciitis increases as the range of ankle dorsiflexion decreases. Individuals who spend the majority of their workday on their feet and those whose body-mass index is >30 kg/m 2 are also at increased risk for the development of plantar fasciitis. Reduced ankle dorsiflexion, obesity, and work-related weight-bearing appear to be independent risk factors for plantar fasciitis. Reduced ankle dorsiflexion appears to be the most important risk factor.

Level of Evidence: Prognostic study, Level II-1 (retrospective study). See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.



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