Your plantar fascia is a wide ribbon of connective tissue that runs along the underside of the foot from the heel bone to the toes. It is estimated that 1 in 10 Americans will suffer damage to the plantar fascia in the form of tiny tears and inflammation along its length. The condition is known as plantar fasciitis and is associated with a sharp pain, deep in the heel (often at waking) as well as problems with flexing the foot upwards.
Damage to the plantar fascia normally results from long periods of standing upright. It is not always possible to determine a precise cause but the following people tend to be more at risk of developing this painful condition:
- People who are over weight.
- Incidence rates increase with age due to wear and tear of the plantar fascia over time.
- People with occupations that involve long periods of standing such as police work, teaching and nursing for example. Construction workers, especially if involved in weight bearing activities, are also susceptible.
- Pregnant women (due to higher body mass index).
- Athletes, in particular runners (a condition sometimes to referred to as ‘runner’s heel’), gymnasts and dancers.
- People wearing poorly designed shoes that result in collapsed arches.
Much of the pain associated with plantar fasciitis can be alleviated through corrective footwear. Plantar fasciitis shoes are designed to cup the heel, provide arch support and reduce the stress on the plantar fascia. Most have a sole that is made from a shock absorbing material to reduce foot stress. Have a look at this Orthaheel review for example. For some sufferers, pain is quickly reduced after wearing corrective footwear for a day or so. If you prefer to continue using your own footwear rather then purchasing new shoes, it may be possible to purchase orthotic insoles that you slip into your existing shoes. Or you can just buy some excellent new balance shoes for plantar fasciitis.