Validation of a Clinical Questionnaire for the Diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis

All consecutive patients referred to an orthopaedic foot and ankle private practice will be invited to participate in this study. Upon referral to the foot and ankle clinic by their physician, a package will be mailed out to each patient containing the questionnaire and a letter describing the project. A consent form for participation in the study will also be included in the pack. If the patient agrees to participate, he or she will complete the questionnaire at home. When each participant arrives to the clinic at their booked appointment, the same questionnaire would then be administered to the patient for completion in the waiting room. The patients will then undergo the usual consultation by a Fellowship trained foot and ankle surgeon and a diagnosis for their complaint will be determined. Patient height and weight will also be measured at the initial clinical visit. The self-administered questionnaire has been devised to reflect a formalized history and physical examination, particularly relating to the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. It contains six questions characterizing the patient’s symptoms and one question to identify the location of maximal pain. Each question has been selected to reflect pertinent positive findings, both during the history and physical examination for the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. it is estimated it will take the patient 15 minutes to complete the questionnaire.