The connective tissue between the heel and ball of the foot may become damaged and painful.
Pain, which is often worse when first bearing weight in the morning and after periods of rest, is felt at the bottom of the heel.
The diagnosis is based on an examination of the foot and imaging tests.
Stretches, applying ice, changing footwear, wearing devices inside the shoe that cushion, support, and elevate the heel, and sometimes corticosteroid injections can help.
(See also Overview of Foot Problems Overview of Foot Problems Some foot problems start in the foot itself, for example, resulting from a foot injury. Problems can occur in any bone, joint, muscle, tendon, or ligament of the foot. Foot and ankle fractures... read more 
.)
The plantar fascia connects the bottom of the heel bone to the ball of the foot and is essential to walking, running, and giving spring to the step.
Plantar fasciosis is sometimes referred to as plantar fasciitis. However, the term plantar fasciitis is not correct. The term fasciitis means inflammation of the fascia, but plantar fasciosis is a disorder where the fascia is repeatedly stressed rather than inflamed.
Other terms used to describe plantar fasciosis include calcaneal enthesopathy and calcaneal spur syndrome (heel spur What Is a Heel Spur? 
). A heel spur is a pointed growth of extra bone on the heel bone. It is caused over time by a combination of increased pull on the fascia and foot dysfunction. However, a heel spur may or may not be present. Often a small tear results from excessive strain placed on the plantar fascia. Plantar fasciosis is one of the most common causes of heel pain.
Plantar fasciosis can develop in people who have a sedentary lifestyle, wear high-heeled shoes, have unusually high or low arches in the feet, or have tight calf muscles or a tight Achilles tendon (the tendon that attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone). Sedentary people are usually affected when they suddenly increase their level of activity or wear less supportive shoes such as sandals or flip-flops. Plantar fasciosis is also common among runners and dancers because of increased stress on the fascia, especially if the person also has poor foot posture. The development of this painful disorder occurs more often in people whose occupations involve standing or walking on hard surfaces for prolonged periods.
Disorders that may cause or aggravate plantar fasciosis are obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and other types of arthritis. Too many corticosteroid injections may contribute to the development of plantar fasciosis by damaging the fascia or the fat pad under the heel.
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciosis
A person with plantar fasciosis may have pain anywhere along the course of the plantar fascia but most commonly where the fascia joins the bottom of the heel bone. The person often feels a great deal of pain with weight bearing, particularly when placing weight on the foot first thing in the morning. The pain temporarily lessens within 5 to 10 minutes but may return later in the day. It is often worse when pushing off of the heel (such as when walking or running) and after periods of rest. In this case, the pain radiates from the bottom of the heel toward the toes. Some people have burning or sticking pain along the inside border of the sole of the foot when walking.
What Is a Heel Spur?
A heel spur is a pointed growth of extra bone on the heel bone (calcaneus). It may form when the plantar fascia, the connective tissue extending from the bottom of the heel bone to the base of the toes (ball of the foot), pulls excessively on the heel. The spur may be painful as it develops but it may become less painful as the foot adjusts to it. Not all heel spurs cause symptoms. When heel spurs do cause symptoms, most can be treated without surgery.  |
Diagnosis of Plantar Fasciosis
A doctor's examination of the foot
Sometimes x-rays
The doctor may make the diagnosis of plantar fasciosis by examining the foot. The diagnosis is confirmed if people have tenderness where the plantar fascia enters the heel bone.
X-rays X-rays A doctor can often diagnose a musculoskeletal disorder based on the history and the results of a physical examination. Laboratory tests, imaging tests, or other diagnostic procedures are sometimes... read more 
may show a heel spur protruding from the bottom front edge of the heel bone. However, people with plantar fasciosis often do not have heel spurs, and most people who do have heel spurs do not have pain, so the presence of a heel spur does not necessarily confirm plantar fasciosis and also does not mean the heel spur needs to be treated.
Other diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) A doctor can often diagnose a musculoskeletal disorder based on the history and the results of a physical examination. Laboratory tests, imaging tests, or other diagnostic procedures are sometimes... read more (MRI), may be done if doctors suspect the person's fascia is torn.
Treatment of Plantar Fasciosis
Stretching, orthoses, and night splints
To relieve the stress and pain on the fascia, the person can take shorter steps and avoid walking barefoot. Activities that involve foot impact, such as jogging, should be avoided. The person may need to lose weight. Stretching the calf muscles and foot often accelerates healing. Orthoses (devices placed in the shoe) can help to cushion, support, and elevate the heel.
Physical therapy and splinting at night help stretch the calf muscles and fascia during bed rest.
Other measures that may be needed include use of adhesive strapping or arch-supporting wraps, cold and ice massage, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Pain relievers (analgesics) are the main drugs used to treat pain. Doctors choose a pain reliever based on the type and duration of pain and on the drug's likely benefits and risks. Most pain... read more (NSAIDs), and occasional corticosteroid injections into the heel. Corticosteroid injections are usually not given more than a few times because they can make the disorder worse.
If these measures are not helpful, people may be given corticosteroids by mouth and a cast may be applied. If symptoms still continue, surgery may be needed to partially release pressure on the fascia and remove heel spurs if they seem to be contributing to the pain.
In a new treatment, called extracorporeal pulse activation therapy (EPAT), doctors use a device to apply pressure waves of sound to the heel. The pressure waves stimulate blood circulation, which may help healing.
