The plantar fascia is a strong fibrous band of tissue that sits underneath the foot. It runs from the heel to the big toe. It helps to propel you forward during both walking and running. It is the most common structure in the foot to suffer injury with over 10% of the population suffering at some time in their life.
How do I know if I have plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fascia pain is often described as a dull, throbbing or burning ache that is typically exacerbated when the plantar fascia is stretched after periods of prolonged rest.
Symptoms present gradually, commonly without trauma, and are often ignored for many months. Therefore, this typically presents as a chronic issue by the time treatment starts.
Typical symptoms include;
- Heel pain on stepping out of bed
- During walking
- Wearing flat shoes or walking barefoot
- When trying to exercise