One of the common causes of heel pain, plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the thick band of tissue, the plantar fascia, that runs across the bottom of each foot and connects the heel bone to the toes. It forms the arch on the bottom of your foot.
Plantar fasciitis happens when your plantar fascia is overused or stretched too far. It commonly causes stabbing pain that happens with your first steps in the morning.
The common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:
Pain near the heel: The condition usually starts with gradual, mild pain felt at the bone of your heel. It may progress into a sharp or stabbing pain when using your affected foot or putting pressure on your heel.
'First step' pains: The pain from plantar fasciitis is usually worst with the first few steps after awakening, although it may also be triggered by long periods of standing or sitting. The pain usually gets better after walking for a few minutes. This is the most common symptom of plantar fasciitis.
Swelling around your heel: This is due to tiny tears from repeated strains on the ligament.
Visit your healthcare provioder if the pain in your heel or foot doesn't get better on its own in a week or symptoms do not improve after two weeks of treatment.
Factors that irritates or damages your plantar fascia can cause plantar fasciitis, including:
Certain conditions may cause plantar fasciitis, such as high arch feet, flat feet, and being obese.
Even though plantar fasciitis can develop without an obvious cause, certain factors may increase your risk of developing this condition, such as:
Imaging Tests
Your healthcare provider may conduct an X-ray or MRI to examine your feet and ascertain that the pain is not caused by a fracture or arthritis.
