Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of pain on the bottom of the foot and it is the third most common injury in runners.

The plantar fascia is a thick weblike band of fibrous tissue and ligaments that connect your heel to the front of your foot. It acts as a shock absorber and supports the arch of your foot, helping you walk.

Risk factors

Although the causes of Plantar fasciitis are poorly understood, the plantar fascia is designed to absorb the high stresses and strains we place on our feet. But, sometimes, too much pressure damages or tears the tissues, it is also quite common in sportspeople, poor foot mechanics, overweight and sedentary people.

The body’s natural response to injury is inflammation, which results in heel pain and stiffness of plantar fasciitis.

Symptoms

Plantar fasciitis typically feels like a stabbing pain that is located at the bottom of the foot (the arch or/and in the heel). The pain is usually the worst on the first few steps in the morning or when you get up after sitting for a while, it subsides after a few minutes of walking, but the pain can be aggravated after running or long walks.

It also tends to be ‘self-limiting’ which means it can go away on its own but that can take over a year.

Complications

Ignoring plantar fasciitis may result in chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities. Changing the way you walk as a way to relieve plantar fasciitis pain might lead to foot, knee, hip, or back problems.