DIFFERENCES IN IMPULSE DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS IN PATIENTS WITH PLANTARFASCIITIS

The impulse distribution based upon vertical foot-floor reaction force s and time under the fore-, mid-, and hindfoot was determined using Te kscan's F-Scan system. This was compared in 40 barefoot patients with longstanding plantar fasciitis with an equal number of normal subjects . The patient group tended to load the hind-and midfoot to a lesser ex tent than the control group. Consequently, a greater proportionate loa d was borne by the forefoot. This result was highly significant for bo th the midfoot (P < 0.001) and forefoot (P = 0.002) comparisons. An ob jective biomechanical method such as this may be useful as a diagnosti c aid, to identify individuals predisposed to this condition, and for evaluating the efficacy of various treatment modalities.