Hamstra-Wright et al. 2021, Risk factors for plantar fasciitis in physically active individuals: systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies in physically active populations identified three statistically significant risk factors for plantar fasciitis: greater ankle plantarflexion range of motion (weighted mean difference 7.04°, 95% CI 5.88–8.19), higher BMI (weighted mean difference 2.13 kg/m², 95% CI 1.40–2.86), and greater body mass (weighted mean difference 4.52 kg, 95% CI 0.55–8.49). Notably, restricted dorsiflexion — the factor most emphasised in earlier case-control work — did not reach significance in the pooled analysis. Moderate evidence.