Comparative Evaluation of Plantar Fascia Thickness and Pedobarometric Parameters in Patients With Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
| Registry | NCT07887100 |
|---|---|
| Status | Completed |
| Study type | Observational |
| Enrollment | 52 (Actual) |
| Sponsor | Dokuz Eylul University (Other) |
| Conditions | Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction, Plantar Fascia Thickness, Pedobarography, Foot Posture Index Score, Pedobarometric |
| Dates | start 2026-03-02, primary completion 2026-09-01, completion 2026-09-01, first posted 2026-10-21, last updated 2026-10-21 |
| Locations | 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye) |
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All trials for Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction All trials for Plantar Fascia Thickness
This study aims to compare plantar fascia thickness and pedobarometric parameters between individuals with sacroiliak joint dysfunction and healty individuals.A total of 52 adult volunteers aged 18 to 50 years were included in the study, with 26 pariticipants in the sacroiliac joint dysfunction group and 26 participants in the healty control group.Participants with sacroiliac joint dysfunction were identified based on clinical examination and sacroiliac joint pain provocation tests. Foot posture was evaluated using the Foot Posture Index-6 (FPI-6), and participants with neutral foot posture were included. Plantar fascia thickness of both feet was measured using ultrasound. Static foot pressure measurements were performed during standing with eyes open and closed, and dynamic foot pressure measurements were performed during walking using a pedobarometric system. The study compares plantar fascia thickness and pedobarometric parameters between the sacroiliak joint dysfunction and control groups. It also investigates the relationship between plantar fascia thickness and pedobarometric parameters.
This cross-sectional, comparative case-control study was designed to compare plantar fascia thickness and pedobarometric parameters between patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) and healthy controls, and to examine the relationship between plantar fascia thickness and pedobarometric parameters in the patient group.
Patients aged 18 to 50 years who presented with low back pain to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic of Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine and met the eligibility criteria were enrolled consecutively. The control group consisted of healthy volunteers without SIJD, selected to be similar to the patient group in age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Controls were recruited from the staff of the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation and through announcements in these units. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The minimum sample size, calculated with G*Power 3.1.9.7 (d = 0.80, alpha = 0.05, power = 80%), was 26 participants per group (52 in total).
Age, sex, occupation, height, weight, BMI, weekly exercise duration, daily step count, comorbidities, lower limb length discrepancy, and dominant foot were recorded. All assessments were completed on the same day by the same investigator, who was not blinded to group status.
SIJD was diagnosed in patients with pain around the posterior superior iliac spine when at least three of six provocation tests (FABER, Gaenslen, thigh thrust, sacral thrust, compression, and distraction) were positive on the same side. A test was considered positive when it reproduced the patient's familiar pain, and the affected side was recorded.
Foot posture was assessed with the Foot Posture Index-6 (FPI-6), which consists of six items with a total score ranging from -12 to +12. Only participants with scores between 0 and +5 (neutral foot posture) in both feet were included.
Plantar fascia thickness was measured by ultrasonography (GE Versana Premier, 4.2-13 MHz linear probe) with the participant lying prone. Measurements were taken in the sagittal plane at the calcaneal insertion of the fascia, and the mean of three measurements was recorded for each foot. Echogenicity, calcaneal spur, perifascial fluid, and Doppler vascularity were also recorded.
Pedobarometric assessment was performed barefoot on a TekScan MatScan pressure mat. Static measurements lasted 30 seconds and were taken with eyes open and eyes closed. Dynamic measurements were taken with the three-step protocol in both walking directions, so that each foot was recorded separately. Each measurement was repeated three times and averaged. Center of force (CoF) parameters (ellipse area, path length, variability, and anteroposterior and mediolateral excursion) and load distribution (% body weight) were recorded.
Data collection has been completed, and statistical analyses will be performed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 27. Depending on the distribution of the data, continuous variables will be compared between groups with the independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test, and categorical variables with the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Associations between plantar fascia thickness and pedobarometric parameters will be assessed with Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis.Multivariable linear regression analysis will be used to identify factors associated with plantar fascia thickness.The Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate procedure will be applied for multiple comparions where appropriate. Effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals will be reported together with p values, and p < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.
| Arm | Type | Interventions | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Group | Patients with low back pain who were diagnosed with sacroiliac joint dysfunction when at least three of six pain provocation tests were positive on the same side. No intervention was applied. Plantar fascia thickness was measured by ultrasonography, and static and dynamic pedobarometric assessments were performed. | ||
| Healthy Control Group | Healthy volunteers without sacroiliac joint dysfunction, selected to be similar to the patient group in age, sex, and body mass index. No intervention was applied. Participants underwent the same ultrasonographic and pedobarometric assessments as the patient group. |
Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to 50 Years, accepts healthy volunteers
Inclusion Criteria: Sacroiliac joint dysfunction group: * Age 18 to 50 years * Low back pain for at least 3 months, localized mainly around the posterior superior iliac spine, with or without radiation to the buttock or posterior thigh * At least three of six sacroiliac joint pain provocation tests (FABER, Gaenslen, thigh thrust, sacral thrust, compression, and distraction) positive on the same side * Foot Posture Index-6 score between 0 and +5 in both feet Healthy control group: * Age 18 to 50 years * No diagnosis of sacroiliac joint dysfunction and no related complaints (all six sacroiliac joint pain provacation tests (FABER, Gaenslen, thigh thrust, sacral thrust, compression, and distraction) negative bilaterally ) * Foot Posture Index-6 score between 0 and +5 in both feet Exclusion Criteria: * Systemic rheumatologic disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis) * Metabolic bone disease (e.g., osteoporosis, osteomalacia) * Active lumbar disc herniation or radiculopathy * Previous fracture, surgery, or structural deformity of the lower extremity * Pregnancy * Body mass index above 30 kg/m2 * Diabetes mellitus and/or hypothyroidism * Regular exercise on more than three days per week * Occupation requiring prolonged standing (e.g., teacher, surgeon, waiter) * Walking more than 5 km per day * Physical therapy and/or injection treatment to the foot or ankle within the past 6 months * Previous diagnosis or history of plantar fasciitis * Central or peripheral nervous system disease (e.g., stroke, peripheral neuropathy, tarsal tunnel syndrome, Morton's neuroma) * Lower extremity length discrepancy of 1 cm or more * Use of orthopedic insoles, special footwear, or orthoses * History of serious foot trauma (e.g., moderate to severe ankle sprain)
| Facility | City | Country | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty of Dokuz Eylül University | Izmir | Turkey (Türkiye) |