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1: J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2002 Nov-Dec;92(10):532-6.Click here to read Links

Sectioning the plantar fascia. Effect on first metatarsophalangeal joint motion.

Harton FM, Weiskopf SA, Goecker RM.

Northlake Regional Medical Center, Tucker, GA, USA.

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.

PMID: 12438498 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]