Some causes of Plantar Fasciitis include:

• • Obesity is one of the most common risk factors for Plantar Fasciitis. Being overweight can lead to Plantar Fasciitis because it puts more physical stress  on the foot, but mainly the plantar fascia. While walking, tiny tears can occur leading to inflammation and pain.

• • Age is another risk factor for Plantar Fasciitis. It usually affects people aged between 40 and 60 years.

• • Gender – Females are commonly more affected than males.
  • Exercise and sports that include repetitive impact activity. Running and jumping sports are among the activities that might lead to Plantar fasciitis. This repetitive trauma can result in the wear & tear of the plantar fascia. This is one of the most common causes of this condition.
  • Flat feet as well as high arches can contribute to Plantar Fasciitis. This affects how your body weight is distributed resulting in more pressure on the plantar fascia, especially when you are standing for long periods of time.

Plantar Fasciitis presents with pain around the heel. The pain is usually worse in the morning when you take the first few steps. If you stand up after sitting for a long time, you might experience pain for a few minutes. Also, pain with physical activity is another sign. The condition will typically cause a feeling of tightness, shooting or burning sensation on the bottom of the foot.

The diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis depends mainly on your medical history, the presence of risk factors in addition to the doctor’s examination.

If you suffer from pain in your heels, your doctor will examine your foot to define the point where there is maximum tenderness. Moreover, they will check for flat feet or high arches. Imaging is not routinely needed to diagnose Plantar Fasciitis; however, an X-ray can be ordered to rule out fractures and arthritis. Also, bone spurs can be seen on X-rays, which can commonly present with this condition.

An MRI might be ordered in the case Plantar Fasciitis does not respond to conservative treatment.

Conservative treatment is almost always the answer to Plantar Fasciitis

• • First, you must stop any activity that may be contributing to the stress and repetitive trauma of the Plantar Fascia. 
  • Changing shoes and wearing customized inserts/insoles/orthotics may help offer support to the plantar fascia, ultimately reducing your pain and inflammation.
  • Rolling your foot on ice packs or a frozen water bottle. This can not only help decrease your pain and inflammation, but also stretch the plantar fascia to reduce tension on the affected area.
  • Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory medications are also commonly used to decrease inflammation.
  • Physical therapy using corrective functional exercises may help correct some of the imbalances in your gait and movement patterns, which may relieve your pain. 
  • Night splints will keep your plantar fascia stretched while sleeping. This will reduce the morning pain when you take your first few steps. 
  • Kinesiotaping can help support the Plantar Fascia while walking or performing physical activities. 
  • If conservative treatment does not work a cortisone injection can be considered. This will rapidly reduce the inflammation in the area, but may not be a long term fix, as it does not address the overall problems in regards to body mechanics.
  • An injection of platelet-rich plasma or dextrose (prolotherapy) into the tender area may help promote and speed healing of the plantar fascia.

If the above treatments fail to treat your Plantar Fasciitis, surgery can be considered. In surgery, your doctor might remove bone spurs or release the ligaments of the plantar fascia. Surgery is only recommended after exhaustion of all non-surgical options.