Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Korea. wipmr@catholic.ac.kr
Published online: December 1, 2004.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the normal values of the heel-pad thickness and compressibility, and to compare these parameters according to age, gender and body mass index (BMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 94 volunteers without any heel problems were selected. The heel-pad thickness was measured by ultrasound. The compressibility, which manifested as the compressibility index (CI), was calculated as the ratio of the loaded heel-pad thickness (LHPT) to the unloaded heel-pad thickness (UHPT). RESULTS: The average UHPT and CI were 1.26 cm and 0.50 in group A (20-34 years), 1.25 cm and 0.54 in group B (35-49 years), and 1.09 cm and 0.57 in group C (50-65years). The average UHPT and CI were 1.22 cm and 0.53 in males and 1.11 cm and 0.53 in females. The average values for the UHPT and CI were 1.15 cm and 0.53 in the normal weight group, and 1.27 cm and 0.57 in the overweight group. The value of the UHPT was greater in men than in women, and showed a tendency to decrease with increase age. The CI increased with age, but there was no significant gender difference. The increased BMI in men led to an increase in the UHPT and CI. CONCLUSION: The average values of the heel-pad thickness and CI in the population without heel problems will be beneficial in providing background information and diagnostic information on patients with heel pain.
Print
facebook
twitter
Linkedin
google+
Download Citation
PDF Links
Full text via DOI 
