A prospective study of the muscle strength and reaction time of the quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius muscles in patients with plantar fasciitis

Jin Hyuck Lee, Hae Woon Jung, Woo Young Jang, Jin Hyuck Lee, Hae Woon Jung, Woo Young Jang

Abstract

Background: Muscle weakness is an important etiological factor in plantar fasciitis (PF), but available data on the role of the quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles are limited. The aim of this study was to compare the strength and reaction time of the quadriceps, hamstring, and GCM muscles and foot pressure between patients with PF and normal controls.

Methods: A total of 21 PF patients and 21 normal controls were enrolled. Muscle strength was measured by the peak torque per body weight (Nmkg- 1 × 100). Muscle reaction time was evaluated by the acceleration time (AT, milliseconds). Foot pressure and posture were assessed by pedobarography [valgus/varus index (VV index), %].

Results: The strength of the quadriceps was significantly lower in the affected ankles of the PF group than in the control group (p = 0.005). The AT of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles was significantly increased in the affected ankles of the PF group than in the control group (quadriceps: p = 0.012, hamstring: p = 0.001), while the AT of the GCM muscle was significantly decreased (p = 0.009) and significantly correlated negatively with quadriceps muscle strength (r = -.598, p = 0.004) and AT (r = -.472, p = 0.031). Forefoot (p = 0.001) and hindfoot (p = 0.000) pressure were significantly greater, with the VV index showing hindfoot valgus, in the affected ankles in the PF group compared to the control group (p = 0.039).

Conclusions: This study demonstrated weakness and delayed reaction time of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles, with a rapid reaction time of the GCM muscle, in patients with PF.

Clinical relevance: Clinicians and therapists should assess the function of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles when planning the management of PF patients without muscle tightness.

Keywords: Foot pressure; Gastrocnemius; Muscle reaction time; Pedobarography; Plantar fasciitis.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of patients with plantar fasciitis
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Measurement of the strength and reaction time of the quadriceps, hamstring (a), and gastrocnemius (b) muscles
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Five segments on pedobarography: the medial forefoot (MFF), lateral forefoot (LFF), medial midfoot (MMF), lateral midfoot (LMF), and heel. This image shows hindfoot valgus with increased pressure in the forefoot and hindfoot

References

    1. Huguenin L, Brukner PD, McCrory P, Smith P, Wajswelner H, Bennell K. Effect of dry needling of gluteal muscles on straight leg raise: a randomised, placebo controlled, double blind trial. Br J Sports Med. 2005;39:84–90. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2003.009431.
    1. Waclawski ER, Beach J, Milne A, Yacyshyn E, Dryden DM. Systematic review: plantar fasciitis and prolonged weight bearing. Occup Med (Lond) 2015;65:97–106. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqu177.
    1. Periyasamy R, Anand S, Ammini AC. The effect of aging on the hardness of foot sole skin: a preliminary study. Foot (Edinb) 2012;22:95–99. doi: 10.1016/j.foot.2012.01.003.
    1. Chen DW, Li B, Aubeeluck A, Yang YF, Huang YG, Zhou JQ, et al. Anatomy and biomechanical properties of the plantar aponeurosis: a cadaveric study. PLoS One. 2014;9:e84347. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084347.
    1. Lee JH, Park JH, Jang WY. The effects of hip strengthening exercises in a patient with plantar fasciitis: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019;98:e16258. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000016258.
    1. Martin RL, Davenport TE, Reischl SF, McPoil TG, Matheson JW, Wukich DK, et al. Heel pain-plantar fasciitis: revision 2014. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014;44:A1–33. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2014.0303.
    1. Labovitz JM, Yu J, Kim C. The role of hamstring tightness in plantar fasciitis. Foot Ankle Spec. 2011;4:141–144. doi: 10.1177/1938640010397341.
    1. Pascual HJ. The effect of the gastrocnemius on the plantar fascia. Foot Ankle Clin. 2014;19:701–718. doi: 10.1016/j.fcl.2014.08.011.
    1. Harty J, Soffe K, O'Toole G, Stephens MM. The role of hamstring tightness in plantar fasciitis. Foot Ankle Int. 2005;26:1089–1092. doi: 10.1177/107110070502601215.
    1. Backstrom K, Moore A. Plantar fasciitis. Phys Ther Case Rep. 2000;3:154–162.
    1. Huffer D, Hing W, Newton R, Clair M. Strength training for plantar fasciitis and the intrinsic foot musculature: a systematic review. Phys Ther Sport. 2017;24:44–52. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2016.08.008.
    1. Malfait B, Dingenen B, Smeets A, Staes F, Pataky T, Robinson MA, et al. Knee and hip joint kinematics predict quadriceps and hamstrings neuromuscular activation patterns in drop jump landings. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0153737. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153737.
    1. Shultz SJ, Nguyen AD, Leonard MD, Schmitz RJ. Thigh strength and activation as predictors of knee biomechanics during a drop jump task. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41:857–866. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181e3b3f.
    1. Thomas AC, McLean SG, Palmieri-Smith RM. Quadriceps and hamstrings fatigue alters hip and knee mechanics. J Appl Biomech. 2010;26:159–170. doi: 10.1123/jab.26.2.159.
    1. Ward SH, Blackburn JT, Padua DA, Stanley LE, Harkey MS, Luc-Harkey BA, et al. Quadriceps neuromuscular function and jump-landing sagittal-plane knee biomechanics after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. J Athl Train. 2018;53:135–143. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-306-16.
    1. Li L, Landin D, Grodesky J, Myers J. The function of gastrocnemius as a knee flexor at selected knee and ankle angles. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2002;12:385–390. doi: 10.1016/S1050-6411(02)00049-4.
    1. Chen WL, Su FC, Chou YL. Significance of acceleration period in a dynamic strength testing study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1994;19:324–330. doi: 10.2519/jospt.1994.19.6.324.
    1. Lee JH, Han SB, Park JH, Choi JH, Suh DK, Jang KM. Impaired neuromuscular control up to postoperative 1 year in operated and nonoperated knees after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019;98:e15124. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000015124.
    1. Lee JH, Lee SH, Choi GW, Jung HW, Jang WY. Individuals with recurrent ankle sprain demonstrate postural instability and neuromuscular control deficits in unaffected side. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2018. 10.1007/s00167-018-5190-1.
    1. Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Losa-Iglesias ME, Rodriguez-Sanz D. Static and dynamic plantar pressures in children with and without sever disease: a case-control study. Phys Ther. 2014;94:818–826. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20120164.
    1. Lee KM, Chung CY, Park MS, Lee SH, Cho JH, Choi IH. Reliability and validity of radiographic measurements in hindfoot varus and valgus. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010;92:2319–2327. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.I.01150.
    1. Lee JH, Lee SH, Jung HW, Jang WY. Modified Brostrom procedure in patients with chronic ankle instability is superior to conservative treatment in terms of muscle endurance and postural stability. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2019. 10.1007/s00167-019-05582-4.
    1. Noyes FR, Barber SD, Mooar LA. A rationale for assessing sports activity levels and limitations in knee disorders. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1989;246:238–49.
    1. Mann RA. RE: The effect on ankle dorsiflexion of gastrocsoleus recession, Pinney SJ, et al., foot ankle Int. 2002;23:26-29. Foot Ankle Int. 2003;24:726–727. doi: 10.1177/107110070302400915.
    1. Lunnen JD, Yack J, LeVeau BF. Relationship between muscle length, muscle activity, and torque of the hamstring muscles. Phys Ther. 1981;61:190–195. doi: 10.1093/ptj/61.2.190.
    1. Bolgla LA, Malone TR. Plantar fasciitis and the windlass mechanism: a biomechanical link to clinical practice. J Athl Train. 2004;39:77–82.
    1. Farhan H, Moreno-Duarte I, Latronico N, Zafonte R, Eikermann M. Acquired muscle weakness in the surgical intensive care unit: nosology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and prevention. Anesthesiology. 2016;124:207–234. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000874.
    1. Fredericson M, Cookingham CL, Chaudhari AM, Dowdell BC, Oestreicher N, Sahrmann SA. Hip abductor weakness in distance runners with iliotibial band syndrome. Clin J Sport Med. 2000;10:169–175. doi: 10.1097/00042752-200007000-00004.
    1. Sahrmann, S. Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2013.
    1. Linford CW, Hopkins JT, Schulthies SS, Freland B, Draper DO, Hunter I. Effects of neuromuscular training on the reaction time and electromechanical delay of the peroneus longus muscle. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2006;87:395–401. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2005.10.027.
    1. Thain PK, Bleakley CM, Mitchell AC. Muscle reaction time during a simulated lateral ankle sprain after wet-ice application or cold-water immersion. J Athl Train. 2015;50:697–703. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-50.4.05.
    1. Arnold P, Vantieghem S, Gorus E, Lauwers E, Fierens Y, Pool-Goudzwaard A, et al. Age-related differences in muscle recruitment and reaction-time performance. Exp Gerontol. 2015;70:125–130. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2015.08.005.
    1. Lloyd DG, Buchanan TS. Strategies of muscular support of varus and valgus isometric loads at the human knee. J Biomech. 2001;34:1257–1267. doi: 10.1016/S0021-9290(01)00095-1.
    1. Norton AA, Callaghan JJ, Amendola A, Phisitkul P, Wongsak S, Liu SS, et al. Correlation of knee and hindfoot deformities in advanced knee OA: compensatory hindfoot alignment and where it occurs. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2015;473:166–174. doi: 10.1007/s11999-014-3801-9.
    1. Ohi H, Iijima H, Aoyama T, Kaneda E, Ohi K, Abe K. Association of frontal plane knee alignment with foot posture in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017;18:246. doi: 10.1186/s12891-017-1588-z.
    1. Wyndow N, De Jong A, Rial K, Tucker K, Collins N, Vicenzino B, et al. The relationship of foot and ankle mobility to the frontal plane projection angle in asymptomatic adults. J Foot Ankle Res. 2016;9:3. doi: 10.1186/s13047-016-0134-9.
    1. Morgan KD, Donnelly CJ, Reinbolt JA. Elevated gastrocnemius forces compensate for decreased hamstrings forces during the weight-acceptance phase of single-leg jump landing: implications for anterior cruciate ligament injury risk. J Biomech. 2014;47:3295–3302. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2014.08.016.
    1. Kvist J, Gillquist J. Anterior positioning of tibia during motion after anterior cruciate ligament injury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33:1063–1072. doi: 10.1097/00005768-200107000-00001.
    1. Meunier S, Pierrot-Deseilligny E, Simonetta M. Pattern of monosynaptic heteronymous Ia connections in the human lower limb. Exp Brain Res. 1993;96:534–544. doi: 10.1007/BF00234121.
    1. Kamonseki DH, Goncalves GA, Yi LC, Junior IL. Effect of stretching with and without muscle strengthening exercises for the foot and hip in patients with plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled single-blind clinical trial. Man Ther. 2016;23:76–82. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2015.10.006.

Source: PubMed

스폰서 및 공동 작업자

건강 상태

약물 개입

3
구독하다