title: The influence of time-of-day variation and loading on the aponeurosis plantaris pedis: an ultrasonographic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of time-of-day on the thickness of the the aponeurosis plantaris pedis, and to examine the acute effects of high-load strength training and long distance running on the thickness of the aponeurosis plantaris pedis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proximal aponeurosis plantaris pedis thickness was assessed with a 13-MHz linear-array transducer. In sub-study 1, ten participants (ten aponeurosis') were measured five times during 24 hours. In sub-study 2, ten participants (ten aponeurosis') were measured just before, immediately after and again three hours after 3x12 unilateral heel-rises. In sub-study 3, 11 healthy experienced runners (11 aponeurosis') were measured just before, immediately after and two hours after a 15km run. The average thickness of three scans of each foot was used in the analysis. The data was analysed using repeated measures one-way ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean thickness of the aponeurosis plantaris pedis' fluctuated significantly during the 24 hours (p=0,02), but it did not change in relation to the high-load strength training (p=0,86) or 15km of running (p = 0,70).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-load strength training and long distance running do not induce changes in the thickness of the aponeurosis plantaris pedis. Time-of-day influences the thickness of the aponeurosis plantaris pedis, but the changes are not larger than measurement uncertainty.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Surgery Research Unit, Research and Innovation Center, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. sots@rn.dk
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Skou
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rathleff
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Moelgaard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Olesen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016474:Weight-Bearing