What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis is a painful condition affecting the feet, in particular the heel and fascia which is like a ligament that stretches from the heel to the middle foot bones, it supports the arch of your foot and acts as a shock absorber.
This condition can be very difficult to treat due to the constant trauma that area is put under from walking, jogging, running etc, which is why it can take up to a year or longer to settle down. The typical symptoms are pain first thing in the morning after the feet have been rested over night and at the end of the day. There is usually one spot being the main source of pain and is located about 4cm forward from the heel and it maybe tender to press. Plantar Fasciitis is fairly common with 1 in 10 developing it between the ages of 40-60 years and is twice as common in women as it is in men.
Below is a picture showing the anatomy of the foot and identifying the Plantar Fascia.
