Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Plantar Fascia in Flexible Flatfoot: A Noninvasive In Vivo Study

Plantar fascia plays an important role in human foot biomechanics; however, the morphology and mechanical properties of plantar fascia in patients with flexible flatfoot are unknown. In this study, 15 flexible flatfeet were studied, each plantar fascia was divided into 12 positions, and the morpholo...

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Main Authors: Zhihui Qian, Zhende Jiang, Jianan Wu, Fei Chang, Jing Liu, Lei Ren, Luquan Ren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2021.727940/full
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author Zhihui Qian
Zhende Jiang
Jianan Wu
Fei Chang
Jing Liu
Lei Ren
Lei Ren
Luquan Ren
author_facet Zhihui Qian
Zhende Jiang
Jianan Wu
Fei Chang
Jing Liu
Lei Ren
Lei Ren
Luquan Ren
author_sort Zhihui Qian
collection DOAJ
description Plantar fascia plays an important role in human foot biomechanics; however, the morphology and mechanical properties of plantar fascia in patients with flexible flatfoot are unknown. In this study, 15 flexible flatfeet were studied, each plantar fascia was divided into 12 positions, and the morphologies and mechanical properties in the 12 positions were measured in vivo with B-mode ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE). Peak pressures under the first to fifth metatarsal heads (MH) were measured with FreeStep. Statistical analysis included 95% confidence interval, intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC1,1), one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA), and least significant difference. The results showed that thickness and Young’s modulus of plantar fascia were the largest at the proximal fascia (PF) and decreased gradually from the proximal end to the distal end. Among the five distal branches (DB) of the fascia, the thickness and Young’s modulus of the second and third DB were larger. The peak pressures were also higher under the second and third MH. This study found a gradient distribution in that the thickness and Young’s modulus gradient decreased from the proximal end to the distal end of plantar fascia in the longitudinal arch of flexible flatfeet. In the transverse arch, the thickness and Young’s modulus under the second and third DB were larger than those under the other three DB in flexible flatfoot, and the peak pressures under the second and third MH were also larger than those under the other three MH in patients with flexible flatfoot. These findings deepen our understanding of the changes of biomechanical properties and may be meaningful for the study of pathological mechanisms and therapy for flexible flatfoot.
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spelling doaj.art-282cd17f916741c3854d4adf0edba0432022-12-21T18:32:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852021-09-01910.3389/fbioe.2021.727940727940Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Plantar Fascia in Flexible Flatfoot: A Noninvasive In Vivo StudyZhihui Qian0Zhende Jiang1Jianan Wu2Fei Chang3Jing Liu4Lei Ren5Lei Ren6Luquan Ren7Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaOrthopaedic Medical Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaSchool of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, United KingdomKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, ChinaPlantar fascia plays an important role in human foot biomechanics; however, the morphology and mechanical properties of plantar fascia in patients with flexible flatfoot are unknown. In this study, 15 flexible flatfeet were studied, each plantar fascia was divided into 12 positions, and the morphologies and mechanical properties in the 12 positions were measured in vivo with B-mode ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE). Peak pressures under the first to fifth metatarsal heads (MH) were measured with FreeStep. Statistical analysis included 95% confidence interval, intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC1,1), one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA), and least significant difference. The results showed that thickness and Young’s modulus of plantar fascia were the largest at the proximal fascia (PF) and decreased gradually from the proximal end to the distal end. Among the five distal branches (DB) of the fascia, the thickness and Young’s modulus of the second and third DB were larger. The peak pressures were also higher under the second and third MH. This study found a gradient distribution in that the thickness and Young’s modulus gradient decreased from the proximal end to the distal end of plantar fascia in the longitudinal arch of flexible flatfeet. In the transverse arch, the thickness and Young’s modulus under the second and third DB were larger than those under the other three DB in flexible flatfoot, and the peak pressures under the second and third MH were also larger than those under the other three MH in patients with flexible flatfoot. These findings deepen our understanding of the changes of biomechanical properties and may be meaningful for the study of pathological mechanisms and therapy for flexible flatfoot.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2021.727940/fullflexible flatfootplantar fasciashear wave elastographymorphology propertiesmechanical properties
spellingShingle Zhihui Qian
Zhende Jiang
Jianan Wu
Fei Chang
Jing Liu
Lei Ren
Lei Ren
Luquan Ren
Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Plantar Fascia in Flexible Flatfoot: A Noninvasive In Vivo Study
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
flexible flatfoot
plantar fascia
shear wave elastography
morphology properties
mechanical properties
title Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Plantar Fascia in Flexible Flatfoot: A Noninvasive In Vivo Study
title_full Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Plantar Fascia in Flexible Flatfoot: A Noninvasive In Vivo Study
title_fullStr Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Plantar Fascia in Flexible Flatfoot: A Noninvasive In Vivo Study
title_full_unstemmed Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Plantar Fascia in Flexible Flatfoot: A Noninvasive In Vivo Study
title_short Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Plantar Fascia in Flexible Flatfoot: A Noninvasive In Vivo Study
title_sort morphology and mechanical properties of plantar fascia in flexible flatfoot a noninvasive in vivo study
topic flexible flatfoot
plantar fascia
shear wave elastography
morphology properties
mechanical properties
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2021.727940/full
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