Background: Plantar pressure assessment are useful for understanding the functions of the foot and lower limb and predicting injury incidence rates. Musculoskeletal fatigues are likely to affect the results of plantar pressure profiles. This study aimed at characterizing college elite basketball players' plantar pressure profiles and pain profiles during static standing and walking. Methods: Fifty-one male elite basketball players and eighty-five male recreational basketball players participated in this study. An optical plantar pressure measurement system was used for collecting the arch index (AI), regional plantar pressure distributions (PPDs), and footprint characteristics during static and dynamic activities. Elite basketball players' pain profiles were examined for evaluating their common musculoskeletal pain areas.Results: The AI values in recreational basketball players fell in the normal range, whereas was considerably lower in elite basketball players. Elite basketball players' static PPDs of both feet were mainly exerted on the lateral longitudinal arch and the lateral heel, and relatively lower on the medial longitudinal arch, the medial and lateral metatarsal bones. The PPDs mainly transferred to the lateral metatarsal bone and lateral longitudinal arch, and decreased at the medial heel during the midstance phase of walking. The footprint characteristics of elite basketball players illustrated the features of the calcaneal varus (supinated foot) of high arches and the dropped cuboid foot. The lateral ankle joints and anterior cruciate ligaments were the common musculoskeletal pain areas. Conclusions: Elite basketball players' AI values was found to be high arches, and their PPDs tended to parallel the features of the high-arched supinated and dropped cuboid foot. Their pain profiles not only resonated with the common basketball injuries, but also reflected the features of the Jones fracture and cuboid syndrome. The potential links among high-arched supinated foot, Jones fracture and cuboid syndrome are worth further studies.

Background: Plantar fasciopathy (PF) is usually related to changes in foot arch, foot shape and rearfoot posture. However, little research has been implemented by using large-scale datasets, and even less has been conducted centering on plantar pressure distributions (PPDs) of different genders of PF athletes. This study aimed to investigate the relationships among the arch index (AI), the PPDs and the rearfoot postural alignment in hundreds of college athletes with PF during static standing and walking. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 100 male and 102 female athletes with PF was undertaken. The PF athletes’ pain assessment and self-reported health status were examined for evaluating their musculoskeletal painful areas. Results: The PF athletes’ PPDs mainly concentrated on inner feet in static standing, and transferred to lateral forefeet during the midstance phase of walking. The males’ PPDs from the static standing to the midstance phase of walking mainly transferred to anterolateral feet. The females’ PPDs mainly transferred to posterolateral feet. The PF athletes’ static rearfoot alignment matched the valgus posture pattern. The medial band of plantar fascia and calcaneus were the common musculoskeletal pain areas. Conclusions: Characteristics of higher plantar loads beneath medial feet associated with rearfoot valgus in bipedal static stance could be the traceable features for PF-related foot diagrams. Higher plantar loads mainly exerted on the lateral forefoot during the midstance phase of walking, and specifically concentrated on outer feet during the transition from static to dynamic state. Pain profiles seem to echo PPDs, which could function as the traceable beginning for the possible link among pronated low-arched feet, PF, metatarsalgia, calcanitis and Achilles tendinitis.