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Intra-And Inter-Rater Reliability of Ultrasound in Plantar Fascia Thickness Measurement Publisher



Nakhaee M1 ; Mousavi ME2 ; Mohsenibandpei MA3, 4 ; Shakourirad A5 ; Safari MR2 ; Kashani RV2 ; Baneshi MR7 ; Nakhaei M8
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. University Institute of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
  5. 5. Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center (ADIR), Department of Radiology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Radiology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  7. 7. Modeling in Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  8. 8. Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Source: Iranian Journal of Radiology Published:2018


Abstract

Background: Plantar fascia is a thick connective tissue on the plantar side of the foot, which provides the normal shape of the longitudinal arch. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation on the medial tuberosity of calcaneus on the inferior side that may cause heel pain. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of heel pain. Ultrasonography has been recognized as an effective imaging tool for assessing plantar fascia thickness, monitoring the effect of different interventions and guiding therapeutic interventions in patients with plantar fasciitis. Operator dependency is a major limitation for the common use of ultrasound. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate intra and inter-rater reliability of ultrasound in measurements of the thickness of plantar fascia in different points of plantar fascia. Patients and Methods: Twelve healthy (without any lower extremity disorder) young (above 18) volunteers were recruited. Both heels were scanned in the sagittal plane by two raters. Subjects lied prone. Thickness of the plantar fascia was measured at the insertion point of the calcaneus, 5 and 10 mm from insertion of the calcaneus. For statistical analysis, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and linear mixed model ANOVA effects were run. Results: Our results showed that both intra and inter-rater reliability of plantar fascia thickness, measured by ultrasound, have high reproducibility (ICC > 0.821, ICC > 0.849). The linear mixed model suggested that neither rater nor time had a significant effect on the rater’s measurements. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that both intra and inter-rater of measuring plantar fascia thickness at three points using ultrasound seemed to be high. © 2018, Iranian Journal of Radiology.
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