The primary aim of the study is to determine whether deviations from normal in the myofascial structure have an effect on the development of plantar fasciitis by evaluating the myofascial chain lines as well as the general evaluation parameters in patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. The secondary aim of the study is to create a future clinical projection regarding the applications to be made over the myofascial chain in addition to the generally accepted treatment protocols in the light of the findings.
The plantar fascia is an important connective structure that extends from the metatarsal heads to the calcaneus and provides the continuity of the longitudinal arch of the foot. With microtraumas and the formation of chronic inflammation on the plantar surface exposed to repetitive stress, the fascia thickens and becomes prone to repetitive injuries and forms plantar fasciitis. The reasons for this repetitive stress are; excessive physical activity, obesity, age, prolonged standing, biomechanical changes, limited dorsiflexion and hamstring tension. Studies on this subject in the literature have reported that tension in the hind leg muscles is associated with plantar fasciitis, and it has been shown that applications on the Achilles tendon and gastrocnemius relieve plantar fasciitis complaints. Similarly, it has been reported that tension in the hamstring muscle may be associated with the development of plantar fasciitis. It is known that the Plantar Fascia and Achilles tendon affect each other due to the fascial connection, and therefore these structures are considered together in the solution of their problems. On the other hand, according to the fascial meridian concept developed by Thomas Myers, it was stated that the fascial connection between these two tissues extends to the frontal region in a chain manner, and that a problem at any point in the chain may cause problems in other elements of the chain. For this reason, recently, applications related to the detection and solution of problems have come to the fore by looking at fascial problems more holistically over the fascial chain. Plantar Fascia; It is located in the Superficial Back Line and as far as we know, there is no plantar fasciitis study in which the myofascial chain is considered as a whole. Based on this, our aim in this study is to examine patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis in terms of myofascial chain lines as well as general evaluation methods, to determine whether deviations from normal in the myofascial structure have an effect on the development of plantar fasciitis. Our main goal is to create projections for future clinical studies regarding the applications to be made over the myofascial chain in the treatment of plantar fasciitis in the light of the findings we have obtained.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
84
Istanbul Medeniyet University
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
Ultrasonography
It will be used to measure the thickness of the plantar fascia. As a result of these studies, a plantar fascia greater than 4 mm appears to be abnormal and associated with plantar fasciitis. Ultrasonography (USG) evaluation is a routine method for the diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis.
Time frame: Baseline
Plantar Fasciitis Pain
Visual Analogue Scale will be used in the assessment of pain severity. It expresses pain severity between a score of 0 (no pain) and 10 (unbearably severe pain)
Time frame: Baseline
Pes planus
Pes Planus will be evaluated with navicular drop test. The distance between the navicular bone and the ground is measured while the individual sits on the chair with the hip-knee joint in 90º flexion and the subtalar joint in neutral position. Then, the distance between the navicular bone and the ground is measured again while the individual is standing in a position with equal weight on both extremities. The difference between the two measurements is recorded. 10 mm or more difference is considered pes planus.
Time frame: Baseline
Foot Posture
Foot posture will be evaluated using the Foot posture index, a six item foot posture assessment tool, where each item is scored between -2 and +2 to give a sum total between -12 (highly supinated) and +12 (highly pronated). Items include: talar head palpation, curves above and below the lateral malleoli, calcaneal angle, talonavicular bulge, medial longitudinal arch, and forefoot to rearfoot alignment.
Time frame: Baseline
Ankle Joint Angle
Active and passive dorsi and plantar flexion angles will be measured with a goniometer.
Time frame: Baseline
Algometer
It is used to measure the pressure pain threshold. After localization of the painful area by palpation, force is applied with an algometer until patients feel pain and discomfort. The digit displayed on the algometer is recorded. The average of 3 measurements is taken.
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Time frame: Baseline
Passive Tone
Passive Tone will be evaluated with MyotonPro digital palpation device which is a valid and reliable. In the measurements, the Myoton probe will be placed perpendicular to the fibers of the tissue to be measured and when the probe reaches a sufficient depth, 3 repetitive mechanical stimulus (15ms, 0.40N) will be given to the tissue that has pre-compressed (0.18N). Measurements were taken 3 times from each point and the average values will be used in statistical analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
Stiffness
Stiffness will be evaluated with MyotonPro digital palpation device which is a valid and reliable. In the measurements, the Myoton probe will be placed perpendicular to the fibers of the tissue to be measured and when the probe reaches a sufficient depth, 3 repetitive mechanical stimulus (15ms, 0.40N) will be given to the tissue that has pre-compressed (0.18N). Measurements were taken 3 times from each point and the average values will be used in statistical analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
Decrement
Decrement will be evaluated with MyotonPro digital palpation device which is a valid and reliable. In the measurements, the Myoton probe will be placed perpendicular to the fibers of the tissue to be measured and when the probe reaches a sufficient depth, 3 repetitive mechanical stimulus (15ms, 0.40N) will be given to the tissue that has pre-compressed (0.18N). Measurements were taken 3 times from each point and the average values will be used in statistical analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
Creep
Creep will be evaluated with MyotonPro digital palpation device which is a valid and reliable. In the measurements, the Myoton probe will be placed perpendicular to the fibers of the tissue to be measured and when the probe reaches a sufficient depth, 3 repetitive mechanical stimulus (15ms, 0.40N) will be given to the tissue that has pre-compressed (0.18N). Measurements were taken 3 times from each point and the average values will be used in statistical analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
Relaxation time
Relaxation time will be evaluated with MyotonPro digital palpation device which is a valid and reliable. In the measurements, the Myoton probe will be placed perpendicular to the fibers of the tissue to be measured and when the probe reaches a sufficient depth, 3 repetitive mechanical stimulus (15ms, 0.40N) will be given to the tissue that has pre-compressed (0.18N). Measurements were taken 3 times from each point and the average values will be used in statistical analysis.
Time frame: Baseline
Hamstring Muscle shortness
Hamstring length will be measured with the straight leg lift test. The patient is asked to keep the opposite leg fixed on the bed with the knee straight in the supine position, wearing suitable clothes, and to raise the leg to be tested upwards with the ankle in dorsiflexion and the knee straight. The patient is instructed to wait where the initial tension occurs, and the last degree of movement is measured.
Time frame: Baseline
Pelvic tilt
The position of the pelvis will be evaluated with a digital pelvic inclinometer device to determine whether the pelvis has tilted anteriorly or posteriorly. The digital pelvic inclinometer is a valid and reliable method for the evaluation of pelvic tilt. The device consists of two calipers and the calipers are placed on the spina iliaca anterior superior (SIAS) and spina iliaca posterior superior (SIPS) of the pelvis. The score on the digital display is recorded. "-" values indicate posterior pelvic tilt, "+" values indicate anterior pelvic tilt.
Time frame: Baseline
Cervical and Lumbar Lordosis
It will be determined by photographing. Side photos will be taken while the patient is standing in a free standing position in front of a bare, flat wall with the upper body. Later, the obtained photo shoots will be analyzed with the Tracker 4.11.0 (Physlets, 2017) program and cervical and lumbar lordosis angles will be determined.
Time frame: Baseline
Skin temperature of the Plantar Fascitis area
In order to see the effectiveness of the applications, the skin temperature will be determined by thermal imaging method. This method is frequently preferred because it is a reliable and non-invasive method. The skin temperature of the plantar fascia will be measured with the P45 thermographic camera (Flir System, ThermaCAM, Sweden) with high thermal sensitivity, while the patient is in the prone position, while the feet are hanging from the bed at the level of the malleolus. The measurement will be made by placing the camera on a tripod placed 1m away from the patient. In the analysis, the area covering 1 cm distance from the point where fasciitis develops will be used. Skin temperature will be determined using the FLIR Quick-Report 1.2 software, one of the temperature indicators obtained from this region. In the calculation of skin temperature, the human skin emissivity value will be accepted as 0.98.
Time frame: Baseline
Headache
Presence of headache will be questioned and severity assessment will be made with Visual Analogue Scale. It expresses pain severity between a score of 0 (no pain) and 10 (unbearably severe pain).
Time frame: Baseline
Windlass Test
While the patient is sitting in a chair, the big toe of the foot to be tested is brought into the dorsal flexion of the metatarsal phalangeal joint for a hard time. Pain at the junction of the plantar fascia with the calcaneus during this movement indicates a positive test.
Time frame: Baseline