Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40931567›Full record

ArticleJournal of foot and ankle research2025

Validity of MRI and Ultrasound Volume Measurements of Foot Muscles and Plantar Fascia Cross-Sectional Area Within Older Adults With and Without Chronic Plantar Fasciitis.

Derek A Swanson, Joshua K Sponbeck, Dallin C Swanson, Steven P Allen, Aaron Wayne Johnson

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of foot and ankle research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Derek A SwansonDepartment of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8863-2085
Joshua K SponbeckDepartment of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7291-8908
Dallin C SwansonDepartment of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1457-3910
Steven P AllenElectrical and Computer Engineering, Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4778-8168
Aaron Wayne JohnsonDepartment of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2207-5826

Funding

Department of Exercise Sciences at Brigham Young University
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIntrinsic foot muscles and the plantar fascia are crucial for foot health, which diminishes with age and conditions such as chronic plantar fasciitis (PF). Ultrasound (US) is an accessible and cost-effective method for evaluating these structures. This study aims to assess the repeatability, reliability, and validity of plantar fascia thickness and flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) muscle measurements using US compared with MRI in individuals with and without PF.

methodsFoot muscle volume and plantar fascia thickness were measured via US and MRI in 28 participants with and without PF. Subsequently, the plantar fascia thickness and FDB volume were calculated using the OsiriX semiauto volume segmenter software for MRI and the truncated cone formula for both MRI and US. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), Pearson product correlations (r), minimal detectable differences (MDD), and standard error of measurement (SEm) were calculated.

resultsHigh ICCs (r = 0.988-0.990) indicated excellent repeatability for all measurement techniques of the plantar fascia and FDB muscle. Reliability for plantar fascia and FDB measurements ranged from 3.98% to 5.50% and 5.06%-9.84%, respectively, across both groups. Validity was high with correlation values between 0.94 and 0.99 and Bland-Altman limits of agreement ranging from 2.6% to 9.2%.

conclusionsUS provides repeatable, reliable, and valid measurements of plantar fascia thickness and FDB muscle volume compared with MRI. It offers a cost-effective and accessible alternative for assessing foot health in clinical and research settings.

Indexed as

FasciaFasciitis, PlantarFootMagnetic Resonance ImagingMuscle, SkeletalAgedAged, 80 and overChronic DiseaseFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedReproducibility of ResultsUltrasonographychronic plantar fasciitisintrinsic foot musclesultrasoundvalidityvolume

Identifiers

PMID40931567
PMCPMC12423429

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.