81.
Plantar fasciitis – Correlation between pain and ultrasound findings
Morten Torrild Thomsen, Anders Boesen, Morten Boesen, Søren Torp-
Pedersen, Henning Langberg
Orthopedic Surgery Bispehjerg Hospital; Institute of Sports Medicin,
Bispebjerg Hospital; Orthopedic Surgery, Parken Private Hospital; Parker
Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital; Institute of Public Health, University of
Copenhagen
Background:
Pain is a well known symptom, when athletes suffer from
overused fascia plantaris (FP). A thickening of the fascia, determined by grey
scale ultrasound, has previously been suggested as a diagnostic marker for
such overuse injuries, but at present little or no consensus exists on the specific
deviation in width between healthy and sick FP. For clinicians it is therefore
often a challenge to uncover the existence of FP when there is no conclusive
way of diagnosing it.
Purpose / Aim of Study:
To determine whether there is a connection between
the thickness of FP, determined by ultrasound, and the pain symptoms in a
group of badminton players.
Materials and Methods:
Ninety players were examined with ultrasound, and
the width of the FP was measured on both sides (n=180). Each patient was
interviewed concerning previous and existing occurrence of pain in the FP.
Pain was assessed using VAS.
Findings / Results:
Five players had existing symptoms in one FP
(
mean=VAS 1.4), and the mean thickness of these FPs was 0.4cm +/-0.05.
This was significantly thicker than the mean thickness of the FP in players
which had never experienced symptoms in their FP (n=159) 0.34cm +/-0.06
(
p<0.005). The FP in both groups was significantly thicker than FP in players
which previously had symptoms (n=14) 0.30cm +/-0.04 (p<0.005).
Conclusions:
Based on ultrasound findings in a group of badminton players,
there seems to be a correspondence between existing FP symptoms and the
thickness of FP. Additional data is however needed, before a cut-off value
between healthy and sick FP can be defined and used as conclusive diagnosis.
