Plantar fasciitis is caused when you overuse or put too much stress on your feet. You can usually treat plantar fasciitis at home with over-the-counter medications, icing, rest and stretching.
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Plantar fasciitis is inflammation in the plantar fascia in your foot. It’s the most common cause of heel pain.
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The plantar fascia is a strong, fibrous attachment (similar to a ligament) that runs from your heel to
the ball of your foot and your toes. It's stretchy like a thick rubber band. The plantar fascia connects the bones in your foot together and forms the arch on the bottom of your foot.
Plantar fasciitis happens when your plantar fascia is overused or stretched too far. Anything that damages your plantar fascia can make it swell. This inflammation makes it painful to walk or use your foot. Most people experience plantar fasciitis in one foot at a time, but it’s possible for it to affect both your feet at once.
Visit a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing heel or foot pain for more than a week.
Plantar fasciitis is extremely common. More than 2 million people in the U.S. are treated for it each year. Around 1 in 10 people will develop plantar fasciitis at some point throughout their life.
Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs both cause pain in your heel, but they’re different conditions.
A heel spur is a bony growth that pokes out from the bottom of your heel where your heel bone connects to your plantar fascia. It can happen as a reaction to stress and inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis. Most people don’t feel pain from a heel spur, but when they do, the pain is like plantar fasciitis pain.
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Visit a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing pain in your foot or heel.
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Talk to a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing pain in your heel or foot that doesn’t get better on its own in a week. They’ll help you find at-home treatments to reduce the pain and inflammation in your foot.
It’s always annoying to find out you need to skip a week (or more) of your favorite sport or activity. But don’t rush back onto the field or court. You might re-injure your plantar fascia if you put too much stress on your foot before it’s healed.
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