Author/Authors :
Safari Mohammad Reza نويسنده , Baneshi Mohammad Reza نويسنده Health School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Kerman, Iran , Mohseni Bandpei Mohammad Ali نويسنده Professor, Iranian Research Centre on Aging, Department of Physiotherapy, university of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Evin, Tehran, Iran. AND Visiting Professor, University Institute of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. , Mousavi Seyed Mohammad Ebrahim نويسنده Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, University of
Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran,
Iran , Vahab-Kashani Reza نويسنده University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran , Nakhaee Masoomeh نويسنده Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran , Shakourirad Ali نويسنده Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center (ADIR), Department of Radiology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Nakhaei Masoud نويسنده Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abstract :
[Background]Plantar fascia is a thick connective tissue on the plantar side of the foot, which provides the normal shape of the longitudinal arch. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation on the medial tuberosity of calcaneus on the inferior side that may cause heel pain. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of heel pain. Ultrasonography has been recognized as an effective imaging tool for assessing plantar fascia thickness, monitoring the effect of different interventions and guiding therapeutic interventions in patients with plantar fasciitis. Operator dependency is a major limitation for the common use of ultrasound.[Objectives]The purpose of the present study was to evaluate intra and inter-rater reliability of ultrasound in measurements of the thickness of plantar fascia in different points of plantar fascia.[Patients and Methods]Twelve healthy (without any lower extremity disorder) young (above 18) volunteers were recruited. Both heels were scanned in the sagittal plane by two raters. Subjects lied prone. Thickness of the plantar fascia was measured at the insertion point of the calcaneus, 5 and 10 mm from insertion of the calcaneus. For statistical analysis, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and linear mixed model ANOVA effects were run.[Results]Our results showed that both intra and inter-rater reliability of plantar fascia thickness, measured by ultrasound, have high reproducibility (ICC > 0.821, ICC > 0.849). The linear mixed model suggested that neither rater nor time had a significant effect on the rater’s measurements.[Conclusion]The results of the present study indicate that both intra and inter-rater of measuring plantar fascia thickness at three points using ultrasound seemed to be high.
