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Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the tissue band supporting the arch of the foot, is the most common cause of heel pain and usually improves with stretching, supportive footwear, and time.

Musculoskeletal
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain in adults. It involves irritation and degeneration of the plantar fascia — the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes and supports the arch. The pain comes from repeated micro-injury where the fascia attaches to the heel bone rather than from a single event. The condition is most common between ages 40 and 60, in runners, and in people who spend long hours on their feet. Although it can be stubborn, the great majority of cases resolve with simple, consistent home treatment. Causes and Risk Factors: Plantar fasciitis is an overuse problem: repeated stress on the fascia outpaces its ability to recover. Contributing factors include:
  • Tight calf muscles and Achilles tendons: Limited ankle flexibility concentrates stress on the heel with every step.
  • Foot mechanics: Flat feet, high arches, and abnormal walking patterns change how weight is distributed across the fascia.
  • Excess body weight: More load on the fascia with every step increases risk and slows recovery.
  • Occupations and activities: Long-distance running, dancing, and jobs that keep you standing on hard surfaces all contribute.
  • Unsupportive footwear: Thin-soled, worn-out, or flat shoes offer little cushioning — worth remembering in Florida, where flip-flops and sandals get year-round use.
Symptoms: The pattern of pain is usually distinctive. Symptoms typically build gradually over weeks and most often affect one foot, though both feet can be involved:
  • Stabbing heel pain with the first steps of the day: Pain near the bottom of the heel is typically worst getting out of bed or after long sitting, then eases as the tissue warms up.
  • Pain after — not during — exercise: Activity may feel fine, with soreness flaring afterward.
  • Tenderness at the inner heel: Pressing where the fascia attaches to the heel bone usually reproduces the pain.
Diagnosis: Plantar fasciitis is diagnosed from the story and the examination; imaging is usually unnecessary. X-rays sometimes show a heel spur, but spurs are common in people without pain and are not the true cause. Your physician will also consider other causes of heel and foot pain, such as inflammatory arthritis, osteoarthritis, a stress fracture, or nerve-related pain referred from the back in lumbosacral radiculopathy. Blood tests are occasionally helpful when an inflammatory condition is suspected — for example, heel pain in a younger person who also has joint symptoms elsewhere. Treatment: Consistency matters more than any single remedy. Most people improve substantially within a few months, though stubborn cases can take six to twelve months to resolve fully:
  • Stretching: Daily calf stretches and rolling the arch over a frozen water bottle or ball are the core of treatment.
  • Supportive footwear and inserts: Cushioned shoes with good arch support, or over-the-counter orthotic inserts, offload the fascia.
  • Anti-inflammatory medication: Oral NSAIDs such as naproxen, or topical diclofenac gel, ease pain during flares.
  • Night splints: Keeping the ankle gently flexed overnight reduces those painful first morning steps.
  • Weight management and activity changes: Temporarily switching to cycling or swimming keeps you active while the heel recovers.
  • Injections and other procedures: A corticosteroid injection may help persistent cases, and physical therapy or shock-wave treatment are options when pain lingers beyond several months.
Heel pain that is not improving deserves a proper evaluation rather than months of guesswork. The primary-care team at Zimmer Medical Group can confirm the diagnosis, rule out other causes, and build a recovery plan that fits your activity goals.

Related Medications

Commonly prescribed medications for this condition

NaproxenDiclofenac

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