What is Plantar Fasciitis? Causes & Treatments

Do you experience stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot when you first get out of bed or after long periods of standing or sitting? You might have plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis pain can be debilitating, often limiting an individual’s ability to move around easily and do the activities they love. From getting ready in the morning to walking throughout the day to training or racing, everything becomes more difficult. What is plantar fasciitis, exactly? Keep reading to learn what causes plantar fasciitis and what you can do about it.

The plantar fascia is the taut tissue that makes up the arch of the foot and attaches the heel to the base of the toes. This soft tissue works like a rubber band flexing back and forth as the foot maneuvers through the gait cycle. Now, "itis" stands for inflammation, so the terminology “plantar fasciitis” implies there is inflammation in the plantar fascia. The more the tissue is damaged, the more inflammation you will experience–a direct result of small tears in the tissue.

A burning or pulling sensation underfoot (think hot coals or shooting pain) is a key warning sign of plantar fasciitis. Because the plantar fascia moves with every step, this issue can take a long time to heal. Damage to soft tissue that is constantly on the move can be tricky to deal with. Think about a tear in a rubber band... Put glue on that band... Now, before the glue dries, stretch the band back out. The glue will not hold, and the tear is still present....and so is the pain.