Obesity and pronated foot type may increase the risk of chronic plantar heel pain: a matched case-control study

2007

Obesity and Foot Type Linked to Heel Pain

Sample size: 160 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Irving Damien B, Cook Jill L, Young Mark A, Menz Hylton B

Primary Institution: Musculoskeletal Research Centre, La Trobe University

Is there an association between chronic plantar heel pain and factors like foot posture and body mass index?

Obesity and a pronated foot posture are associated with chronic plantar heel pain and may be risk factors for developing the condition.

Participants with chronic plantar heel pain had a higher average BMI than controls.
Those with chronic plantar heel pain were more likely to have a pronated foot posture.
No significant differences were found in calf endurance or occupational lower limb stress between groups.

People who are overweight or have flat feet might be more likely to have heel pain.

Matched case-control study comparing 80 participants with chronic plantar heel pain to 80 controls matched by age and sex.

Subjectivity in observational measures like the Foot Posture Index may introduce bias.

Different investigators were used for each group, and the study cannot imply causation.

80 participants with chronic plantar heel pain (33 males, 47 females, mean age 52.3 years) matched with 80 controls.

0.004

1.4 – 6.1

p<0.01

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