Comparison of balance performance, gait speed, foot function, lower extremity biomechanical alignment and muscle strength in individuals with unilateral and bilateral plantar fasciitis

The aim of this study is to compare the balance performance, gait speed, foot function, lower extremity biomechanical alignment and muscle strength of individuals with unilateral and bilateral plantar fasciitis. A total of 30 individuals with unilateral (n=15, age=45.20±8.51 years, body mass index=28.19±4.31 kg/m2) and bilateral (n=15, age=44.47±12.31 years, body mass index=29.19±4.21 kg/m2) plantar fasciitis were included in the study. Static balance was evaluated with the Single-Leg Stance Test, dynamic balance with The Star Balance Excursion Test, gait with the OneStep 3.20 mobile phone application, foot function with The Foot Function Index (AFI), and lower extremity biomechanical alignment with the medial longitudinal arch height, Q angle, and muscle length. and muscle strength with a Hand-held Dynamometer. The unilateral group had better unaffected side static and posterolateral dynamic balance performance (p=0.037; p=0.013). It was determined that gait double support asymmetry measurement was better in the unilateral group (p=0.003). Pain, disability and activity limitation were found to be worse in the bilateral group (p<0.05). However, there was no difference between the groups in terms of medial arch height, Q angle and muscle shortness/flexibility (p>0.05). The unilateral group showed greater strength in the affected side Gluteus medius and Adductor muscles (p=0.046; p=0.011), and also showed greater strength in the unaffected side Quadriceps, Iliopsoas, Gluteus medius and Adductor muscles (p=0.018; p=0.026; p=0.006; p=0.026). In this study, balance performance, foot function and lower extremity muscle strength of individuals with unilateral and bilateral PF were found to be different. In line with these results, we think that more treatments should be included in the rehabilitation programs of individuals with bilateral PF to increase balance performance, foot function and lower extremity muscle strength.