Plantar Fasciitis occurs when there is chronic inflammation to the large band of tissue on the bottom of the foot called the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia’s main purpose is to help support the arch of your foot.
Even though the cause of this condition is not fully understood, it is more commonly found in females and overweight individuals. Plantar fasciitis can often be caused by an overly tight Achilles tendon.
The pain most commonly occurs on the bottom of the heel. More pain tends to be on the inside of the foot as compared to the outside. It is common that pain is worst when getting out of bed in the morning and can slowly improve throughout the day. This is because the plantar fascia has had the chance to contract (shorten, tense up) throughout the night.
Pain can vary immensely, being described as a sharp pain or a dull aching/throbbing pain. Soft tissue therapies need to be utilized to first to reduce the intensity of the symptoms and then to prevent them from reoccurring in the future.