What Is Plantar Facitis?

Plantar fasciitis affects the plantar fascia, the thick tissue in the bottom of the feet that connects the toes and the heel bone. The condition most often develops in runners, pregnant women, overweight people and individuals who wear improper shoes.

Features

• A common source of heel pain, plantar fasciitis results when the plantar fascia becomes inflamed. Discomfort typically starts when sufferers walk after awakening, sitting or standing still and decreases as the foot grows limber through activity.

Symptoms

• The sharp pain that accompanies plantar fasciitis usually develops slowly and targets one foot. However, it sometimes affects both feet at once.

Causes

• The plantar fascia becomes irritated and develops tiny tears when it repeatedly endures excessive tension. It then loses the ability to absorb shock and support the foot's arch.

Treatment

• Alleviating plantar fasciitis may involve taking corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, wearing arch supports or night splints, participating in physical or extracorporeal shock wave therapy or, in severe cases, undergoing surgery to detach the heel bone and plantar fascia.

Prevention

• Measures to prevent plantar fasciitis include reducing stress on the plantar fascia by maintaining a healthy weight and never going barefoot; properly supporting the foot's arch with moderate-heeled, shock-absorbing shoes; and replacing athletic shoes regularly.