Anatomical factors associated with predicting plantar fasciitis in long-distance runners

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify anatomical variables associated with plantar-fasciitis sufferers. Selected anatomical variables which were chosen for measurement were leg length, pronation of the subtalar joint, plantar and dorsiflexion ability, and arch height of the foot, as well as the variables height, weight, age, and miles run per week. The means and standard deviations revealed that leg-length inequality, pronation of the subtalar joint, and arch height were not good indicators of plantar-fasciitis sufferers. According to the discriminant-function analysis in which 64% of the subjects were assigned to the appropriate group, plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, and height were good predictors of the recovered and non-recovered sufferers, but could predict no more than 50% of the present sufferers. Therefore, a set of predictor variables was not found for the prediction of plantar-fasciitis sufferers.