Sectioning the plantar fascia. Effect on first metatarsophalangeal joint motion.
A study on the effect of sectioning the plantar fascia on the range of motion at the first metatarsophalangeal joint is presented. Dorsiflexion and plantarflexion range-of-motion data from 18 patients who had no first metatarsophalangeal joint pathology and had undergone an in-step plantar fasciotomy for recalcitrant plantar fasciitis were analyzed. The average increase in dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint after plantar fascia release was 9.8 degrees, which represented a statistically significant increase using a paired t-test. Thus release of the plantar fascia can be considered a potential adjunct to hallux limitus surgery.
Harton
Francois M
FM
Northlake Regional Medical Center, Tucker, GA, USA.
Weiskopf
Steven A
SA
Goecker
Robert M
RM
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005205:Fascia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008683:Metatarsophalangeal Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular