Vertical ground reaction forces in patients with unilateral plantar heel pain - a pilot study

Plantar heel pain (PHP) is a foot pathology commonly reported in both athle tic and non-athletic populations. The etiology of PMP is complex and identi fication of risk factors associated with PHP is required to predict is at i ncreased risk of injury. Excessive plantar heel force and pressures are int rinsic risk factors that may play a contributing role in the development of PHP. Limited research, however. has been undertaken in terms of ground rea ction forces associated with PHP. The aim of the study was to test the hypo thesis that there were significant differences in the vertical ground react ion fords and loading rates at rearfoot contact between symptomatic and con tra-lateral asymptomatic feet in 23 subjects diagnosed with unilateral PHP. The equipment consisted of a portable force plate using a 10-m modular wal kway sampled at 100 Hz by an independent observer. Paired t-tests demonstra ted no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the vertical ground reaction fo rces and loading rates between the symptomatic and contra-lateral asymptoma tic feet. The results suggest that single risk factors such as vertical gro und reaction force and loading rates do not contribute to PHP. The authors conclude that a model that incorporates a multi-factorial approach to risk factor may lead to a better understanding into the etiology and management of those individuals who suffer from heel pathologies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.