Sectioning the plantar fascia. Effect on first metatarsophalangeal joint motion

J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2002 Nov-Dec;92(10):532-6. doi: 10.7547/87507315-92-10-532.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Fascia / anatomy & histology
  • Fascia / physiology
  • Fasciotomy*
  • Foot
  • Humans
  • Metatarsophalangeal Joint / physiopathology*
  • Range of Motion, Articular*