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

To identify the individual, anatomical, and biomechanical predictors of plantar fasciitis among novice conscripts. A prospective cohort study. Military training camp in Bangkok, Thailand. One hundred thirteen novice conscripts without lower extremity pain prior to the commencement of military training. Individual, anatomical, and biomechanical variables were assessed in all participants at baseline. The primary criterion variable was the presence or absence of plantar fasciitis. 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). 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. •Multiple factors contributed to the development of plantar fasciitis among Thai novice conscripts.•Individual predictors of plantar fasciitis consisted of body mass index, stress score, and physical exercise level.•Anatomical predictor of plantar fasciitis was the only femoral anteversion angle.•Biomechanical predictor of plantar fasciitis was the poorer quality of lower-extremity movement.•Abnormalities from proximal region contributed to the development of plantar fasciitis among Thai novice conscripts.