ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the morbidity and influencing infactors of plantar fasciitis in nurses. Methods The clinical nursing staff of 829 people were included in this series. 71 people of them conform to the standard of plantar fasciitis. According to the proportion of 1:1, 71 nurses without plantar fasciitis were included in the control group. The thickness and hardness index of the plantar fascia were detected by ultrasound elasticity. The survey contents including age, the average working hours every day (h), the average standing time in working day (h), body weight, body mass index (BMI), number of night shift, average walking time every day (min) and the average weekly running time (hour) were conducted. The single factor and multi-factor regression method were used to analyze the influence factors of the onset of plantar fascia. Results 71 cases of 829 nurses were with plantar fasciitis, and the incidence was 8.56%. The thickness in observation group was (3.86±0.53) mm, which was significantly smaller than (2.67±0.39) mm of the control group (P<0.05). Hardness index was 2.01±0.23, lower than 3.83±0.70 in control group (t=14.09, P<0.05). Single factor analysis results showed that the average standing time in working day, weight, BMI, average walking time every day, the average weekly running time were different between the two groups (P<0.05). The regression equation: the plantar fascia hardness index =-25.34 + 4.78 × the average standing time in working day + 3.45 × weight + 1.22 × BMI. The equation of the ability to explain the plantar fascia hardness index reached 72.2%, and had a good effectiveness. Conclusions Body weight and BMI, prolonged standing work may induce the nurse plantar fasciitis, and they are independent risk factors.