title: Sonographic evaluation of the plantar fascia in asymptomatic subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the appearance of the plantar fascia in asymptomatic subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one asymptomatic subjects were examined by 2 musculoskeletal radiologists. The plantar fascia was evaluated for thickness, echogenicity, vascularity on power Doppler, rupture, fluid adjacent to the fascia, andcalcifications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 14 men and 17 women (age, 17-79 years; mean, 45 years). The mean thickness of the plantar fascia in men was 3.7 mm (range 2.5-7 mm), and in women 3.5 mm (range, 1.7-5.1 mm). The thickness was greater than 4 mm in 4 men (bilateral in 2). The mean thickness of fascias thicker than 4 mm in men was 5.4 mm (range, 4.3-7 mm). The thickness was greater than 4 mm in 5 women ( bilateral in 4). The mean thickness of fascias thicker than 4 mm in women was 4.7 mm (range, 4.2-5.1 mm). There was no statistically significant difference between men and women and between both heels. Hypoechogenicity was observed in 3 men (bilateral in 2), and in 5 women (bilateral in 6). Hypervascularity, rupture, fluid adjacent to the fascia, and calcifications were not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A thickness greater than 4 mm and hypoechogenicity, are common in the plantar fascia of asymptomatic subjects. Findings that were not seen in asymptomatic subjects include a thickness greater than 7 mm, hypervascularity on power Doppler, rupture, fluid adjacent to the fascia, and calcifications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Belgium. ngadalla@hotmail.com
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gadalla
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kichouh
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boulet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Machiels
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Mey
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Maeseneer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005205:Fascia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006365:Heel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult