Patient education: Plantar fasciitis (The Basics)

What is plantar fasciitis? — 

This is when a part of the foot called the "plantar fascia" gets irritated. The plantar fascia is a tough band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes (figure 1). Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the heel and bottom of the foot.

Plantar fasciitis is very common. It often affects people who run, jump, or stand for long periods. Most people get better within 1 year even without treatment.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis? — 

The most common symptom is pain under the heel and sole (bottom) of the foot.

The pain is often worse:

●When you first get out of bed in the morning

●When you get up after being seated for some time

●After spending a lot of time on your feet

What can I do on my own to feel better? — 

You can:

●Rest – Rest your foot to help it heal. But do not completely stop being active. Doing that can lead to more pain and stiffness in the long run.

●Wear cushioned shoes – Sneakers with a lot of cushion and good arch and heel support are best. Shoes with rigid soles can also help. Adding padded or gel heel inserts to your shoes might help, too.

●Take pain medicines – If your pain is severe, you can try taking over-the-counter pain medicines. Examples include ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve). But if you have other medical conditions or already take other medicines, ask your doctor or nurse before taking new pain medicines.

●Do special foot exercises – Certain exercises might help with heel pain (figure 2 and figure 3 and figure 4 and figure 5). Do these every day.

Is there a test for plantar fasciitis? — 

No. But your doctor or nurse should be able to tell if you have it by learning about your symptoms and doing an exam. They might suggest an X-ray, or other tests to check whether your symptoms might be caused by something else.

How is plantar fasciitis treated? — 

The first step is to try the things you can do on your own. If you do not get better, or your symptoms are severe, your doctor or nurse might suggest:

●Taping up your foot in a special way that helps support the foot (picture 1)

●Special shoe inserts made to fit your foot

●Shots of a steroid medicine into your foot, which can help with pain

●Putting a splint over your foot and ankle (this might be used only at night, for walking, or both)

●Surgery (this is only an option for some people who do not get better with other treatments)

Some doctors also suggest a treatment called "shock wave therapy." This is painful and has not been proven to work.

How can I prevent getting heel pain again? — 

To reduce the chances your pain will come back:

●Wear shoes that fit well, have a lot of cushion, and support your heel and ankle.

●Do not wear slippers, flip-flops, slip-ons, high heels, or poorly fitted shoes.

●Do not go barefoot.

●Do not wear worn-out shoes.

More on this topic

Patient education: Exercises for plantar fasciitis (The Basics)

Patient education: Plantar fasciitis (Beyond the Basics)