CME OnDemand: 2022 AOFAS Annual Meeting-What Makes Plantar Heel Spur Painful? A Matched Case-Control Study

Pdf Summary

Obesity (BMI >30) has been identified as an independent risk factor for painful plantar heel spur, resulting in plantar fasciitis pain, according to a matched case-control study conducted by Michelle Moore, MD, Neha Metgud, BS, and Wonyong Lee, MD. The study aimed to investigate the demographic and radiographic differences between patients with plantar fasciitis and plantar heel spur and a control group with plantar heel spur. The researchers reviewed patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and plantar heel spur from September 2020 to April 2022. Demographic and radiographic findings were compared between the two groups. The study included a total of 100 patients, with 50 in the plantar fasciitis group (painful heel spur) and 50 in the control group (non-painful heel spur). The study found that those in the plantar fasciitis group had a significantly higher BMI (35.2 vs 30.9) and a larger size of plantar heel spur (5.9 mm vs 4.6 mm) compared to the control group. A multivariable regression analysis identified obesity (BMI >30) as an independent risk factor for painful plantar heel spur. The study suggests that treatment for plantar fasciitis should include counseling patients on weight loss and emphasizing the protection and cushioning of the plantar heel to relieve axial loading. The findings highlight the importance of addressing obesity as a risk factor for plantar heel spur pain in the management of plantar fasciitis.

Asset Subtitle

Wonyong Lee, MD, Neha A. Metgud, Michelle Moore

Keywords

Obesity

BMI

painful plantar heel spur

plantar fasciitis pain

matched case-control study

Michelle Moore

Neha Metgud

Wonyong Lee

demographic differences

radiographic differences