Ann Rehabil Med.  2017 Dec;41(6):979-989. 10.5535/arm.2017.41.6.979.

Biomechanical Parameters in Plantar Fasciitis Measured by Gait Analysis System With Pressure Sensor

• Yoo SD
• Kim HS
• Lee JH
• Yun DH
• Kim DH
• Chon J
• Lee SA
• Han YJ
• Soh YS
• Kim Y
• Han S
• Lee W
• Han YR

• KMID: 2400282
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2017.41.6.979

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the differences in biomechanical parameters measured by gait analysis systems between healthy subjects and subjects with plantar fasciitis (PF), and to compare biomechanical parameters between "˜normal, barefooted' gait and arch building gait in the participants.
METHODS
The researchers evaluated 15 subjects (30 feet) with bilateral foot pain and 15 subjects (15 feet) with unilateral foot pain who had a clinical diagnosis of PF. Additionally, 17 subjects (34 feet) who had no heel pain were recruited. Subjects were excluded if they had a traumatic event, prior surgery or fractures of the lower limbs, a leg length discrepancy of 1 cm or greater, a body mass index greater than 35 kg/m2, or had musculoskeletal disorders. The participants were asked to walk with an arch building gait on a treadmill at 2.3 km/hr for 5 minutes. Various gait parameters were measured.
RESULTS
With the arch building gait, the PF group proved that gait line length and single support line were significantly decreased, and lateral symmetry of the PF group was increased compared to that of the control group. The subjects with bilateral PF displayed significantly increased maximum pressure over the heel and the forefoot during arch building gait. In addition, the subjects with unilateral PF showed significantly increased maximum pressure over the forefoot with arch building gait.
CONCLUSION
The researchers show that various biomechanical differences exist between healthy subjects and those with PF. Employing an arch building gait in patients with PF could be helpful in changing gait patterns to normal biomechanics.

Keyword

Plantar fasciitis; Gait; Heel; Forefoot; Pressure

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Diagnosis
Fasciitis, Plantar*
Foot
Gait*
Healthy Volunteers
Heel
Humans
Leg
Lower Extremity

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Description of arch building gait. (A) Resting foot (barefoot). (B) Contracted foot (arch building).

• 

  Fig. 2 Center of pressure parameters. (A) Gait line length. (B) Single support line. (C) Anterior/posterior position. (D) Lateral symmetry.

• 

  Fig. 3 Arch building gait. The data was presented by Zebris system (Zebris Medical GmbH, Isny im Allgau, Germany). COP, center of pressure.

• 

  Fig. 4 Barefoot gait. The data was presented by Zebris system (Zebris Medical GmbH, Isny im Allgau, Germany). COP, center of pressure.

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