Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue running along the bottom of the foot, from the heel bone to the toes. It develops as a result of overstretching or overuse and is sometimes associated with a heel spur.
The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is pain in the underside of the heel, which may be sharp or dull. There may also be mild swelling in the heel. The pain is often worse:
when you take your first few steps after getting out of bed
after long periods of standing
after getting up following long periods of sitting
after (but not usually during) exercise or intense activity
You are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis if you who:
play certain sports or take part in activities that put stress on the heel bone, such as running, dancing and aerobics
have flat feet or high arches
are middle-aged or older, due to weakening of muscles supporting the arch of the foot
are overweight, resulting in a greater load on the plantar facia
spend a lot of time on your feet
wear shoes with poor arch support or stiff soles
have tight calf muscles
You can reduce the risk by choosing supportive shoes, not going barefoot (especially on hard surfaces), replacing running shoes regularly, warming up before starting an activity or sport, starting a new exercise program slowly and allowing adequate recovery time between workouts or training sessions.
Treatments that can help to manage the symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:
reducing activities that cause pain
applying an icepack to the painful area of your foot for 10 to 20 minutes, several times a day
performing stretching exercises to stretch the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia – a physiotherapist can help with this
wearing shoes with good support and cushioning and in some cases, heel pads and arch supports (orthotics) – a podiatrist can assist with choosing the right shoes and prescribing orthotics
wearing night splints while sleeping – these hold the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon in a lengthened position
taking pain-relief medications
For most people plantar fasciitis improves on its own within a year. However, occasionally steroid injections in your heel or surgery may be needed.
For more information: visit https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/plantar-fasciitis
References:
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/plantar-fasciitis
https://sma.org.au/resources-advice/injury-fact-sheets/plantar-fasciitis/
https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2015/march/plantar-fasciitis-in-australian-general-practice/
