Relationship Between Foot Muscle Strength with Achilles Tendon Thickness and Plantar Fascia Thickness

Abstract

Aim: There is essential coordination between foot muscle strength, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia. This study aims to show the mathematical relationship between foot muscle strength and plantar fascia thickness and Achilles tendon thickness.
Material and Method: The study was conducted with 57 volunteering individuals (30 males, 27 females) between the ages of 18 and 40. Plantar fascia thickness and Achilles tendon thickness were measured with the ultrasound. Foot muscle strength was measured with a digital hand dynamometer. The data obtained were statistically evaluated.
Results: A positive, moderately strong correlation was found in men between left side Achilles tendon thickness and plantar fascia thickness (p<0.05). A positive, reasonably strong relationship was found in women between left foot muscle strength average and plantar fascia thickness (p<0.05). However, in all groups, the right foot muscle strength average had a positive, moderately strong correlation with Achilles tendon thickness and plantar fascia thickness (p<0.05). In all groups, it was found that the right-side Achilles tendon thickness had a positive, moderately strong correlation with plantar fascia thickness (p<0.05). On the other hand, when the genders were compared, a statistically significant difference was found between right foot muscle strength and plantar fascia thickness and Achilles tendon thickness (p<0.05).
Conclusion: We believe that the fact that there are different results between men and women and even on the right and left sides of the same gender will be useful, especially in terms of clinic physicians’ approaches towards diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords

• Achilles tendon
• plantar fascia
• muscle strength
• foot
• plantar flexion

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