Plantar Fasciitis

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Introduction

Plantar fasciitis is a painful foot condition.  It occurs when connective tissue at the bottom of the foot, called the plantar fascia, is irritated and inflamed.  The condition commonly occurs in people who spend a lot of time on their feet.  Heel pain that occurs in the morning upon wakening is a hallmark sign of plantar fasciitis.  Fortunately, for the majority of people, symptoms are relieved with non-surgical treatments.
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Anatomy

The plantar fascia is a thick connective tissue located on the bottom of the foot.  It extends from the heel to the ball of the foot.  The plantar fascia maintains the arch of the foot.
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Causes

Plantar fasciitis is caused by structural problems in the foot.  People with flat feet have an extra long plantar fascia, and people with high arches have a short plantar fascia, which makes them prone to plantar fasciitis.  Sudden weight gain, obesity, and prolonged standing or walking on hard surfaces contributes to the condition.  
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Symptoms

Plantar fasciitis can cause significant heel pain.  The pain is usually worse in the morning upon awakening, following rest, or after being on your feet for long periods.  The pain may subside after walking or stretching, which helps relax the plantar fascia. 
 
Many people with plantar fasciitis develop heel spurs.  Heel spurs are abnormal bony growths that form under the heel. They occur as a result of ongoing plantar fascia inflammation or if the plantar fascia pulls away from the bone.
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Diagnosis

Your doctor will review your medical history and examine your foot.  You should tell your doctor about your symptoms and the amount of time that you spend on your feet.  X-rays, bone scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may be used to gain more information about your foot structure and identify the location and size of a heel spur.
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Surgery

Surgery is used a very small percentage of the time.  It may be considered after non-surgical treatments have failed.  Plantar fascia release surgery is used to relax the plantar fascia.  This surgery is commonly paired with tarsal tunnel release surgery.  Surgery is usually followed by physical therapy.  Surgery and rehabilitation are successful for the majority of people.
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Treatment

In the majority of cases, plantar fasciitis is treated without surgery.  Rest, icing, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory or prescription medications can help ease symptoms.  Cortisone injections may also be used.  It can be helpful to lose weight and not go barefoot.

You may be referred to a physical therapist to learn exercises to stretch and help relax the tissues in the heel.  Your doctor may recommend custom orthotics, shoe inserts, or a removable walking cast to help position your foot and cushion your heel.  Night splints can help while you sleep.
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Recovery

The majority of people with plantar fasciitis improve after a few months of non-surgical treatment.  It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions.  Let your doctor and physical therapist know if your symptoms do not improve after a few months so that your treatment plan can be reassessed.
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Prevention

Customized orthotics and insoles can help relieve foot pressure.  It is important to perform your physical therapy exercises to help keep your foot stretched and relaxed.  Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight can help as well.

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This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.

The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.