Predictors of plantar fasciitis in Thai novice conscripts after 10-week military training: A prospective study

Objective: To identify the individual, anatomical, and biomechanical predictors of plantar fasciitis among novice conscripts. Design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: Military training camp in Bangkok, Thailand. Participants: One hundred thirteen novice conscripts without lower extremity pain prior to the commencement of military training. Main outcome measure(s): Individual, anatomical, and biomechanical variables were assessed in all participants at baseline. The primary criterion variable was the presence or absence of plantar fasciitis. Results: After 10 weeks of training, 113 participants were classified as having (n = 71) and not having (n = 42) plantar fasciitis. The results indicated that the conscripts with poorer quality of movement and lesser femoral anteversion angle tended to exhibit plantar fasciitis (odds ratio = 1.996 and 0.720, respectively). Regarding individual components, the conscripts with higher body mass index and higher stress level had increased risk of plantar fasciitis (odds ratio = 1.238 and 1.110, respectively). Moreover, the conscripts with a higher level of physical exercise before military training had a reduced risk of presenting with plantar fasciitis (odds ratio = 0.242). Conclusions: Multiple predictors–especially individual characteristics and the abnormalities from the proximal region (other than foot and ankle)–contributed to the development of plantar fasciitis among Thai novice conscripts.