BACKGROUND: Plantar fasciitis is a common foot disorder that impacts many 
functional activities. Research that quantifies the impact that plantar 
fasciitis has on function is lacking. In addition, little is known about which 
variables are associated with disability in patients with plantar fasciitis. The 
first purpose of this study was to determine if age, gender, body mass index, 
pain intensity, chronicity of symptoms, or ankle dorsiflexion range of motion 
was associated with disability in patients with plantar fasciitis. The second 
purpose was to describe the impact that plantar fasciitis has on functional 
status in the context of five functional domains: household activities of daily 
living, usual work and hobbies, nonweightbearing activities, walking-related 
activities, and running-related activities.
METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients diagnosed with unilateral plantar fasciitis 
were recruited. Demographic and impairment data were collected and all patients 
completed the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), a validated self-report 
measure of disability. Multiple regression analysis was used to describe the 
association between the variables and disability. Graphs depicting five domains 
of function derived from the LEFS were generated to describe the extent of 
disability.
RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) was the only variable that was significantly 
associated with disability (F = 9.87, p =.003). Measures of pain intensity, 
ankle dorsiflexion, age, gender, chronicity, and time spent weightbearing were 
not related to disability. Plantar fasciitis showed distinct patterns of 
disability depending on the functional domain that was assessed.
CONCLUSIONS: With the exception of BMI, impairment and demographic variables do 
not predict the extent of functional loss in patients with plantar fasciitis. 
The most likely domains of function to be at least moderately affected in 
patients with plantar fasciitis are running-related activities and usual work or 
hobbies.