Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Jens Lykkegaard Olesen, Aalborg University, Denmark
- Second opponent: Associate Professor Merete Kolberg Tennfjord, Høyskolen Kristiania
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Hilde Stendal Robinson, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Hilde Wøien, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Aasne Fenne Hoksrud, The Norwegian Olympic & Paralympic Committee & Confederation of Sport
Summary
Plantar fasciopathy (PF) is a common musculoskeletal condition which causes heel pain, reduced function and health-related quality of life. The purpose of the thesis was to improve the assessment and management of patients with plantar fasciopathy (PF). We aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the experiences of people living with PF, to examine psychometric properties of the Norwegian Foot Function Index revised short form (FFI-RS) and to explore possible predictors for less pain and better function in PF patients.
Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used, and data was based on a randomized controlled trial in a specialist setting.
We conducted 15 interviews and the participants experienced how reduced physical activity due to heel pain led to frustration, self-blame and health-related worries. Participants shared how pain in inactivity led to less participation with family, friends and at work.
The Norwegian FFI-RS, measuring pain, stiffness, difficulty, activity limitation and psychosocial issues, showed adequate reliability, validity and responsiveness.
Having unilateral heel pain in opposition to bilateral heel pain, was the most consistent unique predictor for better function and reduced heel pain twelve months after baseline. Additional unique predictors for pain during activity were lower physical activity level and higher repetitions of heel lift whereas shorter duration of pain and being cohabitant/married predicted better function.
Our findings indicate that living with PF can be challenging and complex, hence patients with PF require biopsychosocial assessment and management. The Norwegian FFI-RS can be used in research measuring global foot function. Patients with bilateral heel pain may need more extensive management than those with unilateral pain.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.