Plantar fasciitis: a retrospective analysis of 267 cases

Objectives: To gain a better understanding of the anthropometric, biomechanical and treatment statistics for a diversified population affected with plantar fasciitis. Design: A retrospective case review. Setting: The Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Subjects: Referral patients seen by attending physicians from 1998-2000. Age 43.1 years (+/-3.81), weight 72.2 kg (+/-14.7), height 1.61 m (+/-0.9), BMI 24.7 kg/m(2) (+/-5.16), number of years active 10.6 (+/-10.42), weekly activity 5.6 h (+/-8.6). Results: Over half (54.7%) of patients with plantar fasciitis were reported as having excessive pronation. The frequencies for other biomechanical variables include: genu valgum (20.2%), genu varum (16.9%), pes cavus arch (10.1%), and leg length inequality (6.7%). A prior history of injury to the ankle/foot area was reported in 21.7% of patients and training errors were felt to be the cause in 17.2% of cases. A majority of patients were prescribed stretching and strengthening exercises (76.8%), and orthotics, and NSAIDs were given to 49.1 % and 41.6% respectively. Of the 78 patients for whom follow-up data was available, 17.9% claimed to have complete resolution of symptoms, and 39.7% reported having 75% improvement or better. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.