Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of a structure that is on the bottom of the foot called the plantar fascia. It’s a structure that helps to support the arch. It is involved in proper movement and function during walking and many activities. When that structure is overstressed for various reasons — it can be because of changes in your life, maybe you put on some weight, maybe you’ve started a new activity and you’re overdoing it, or maybe the foot is just not functioning correctly — that added stress is applied to the plantar fascia where it attaches to heel bone, and it can cause swelling and pain.
What is normally required to fix plantar fasciitis is identifying the source of the excess stress, perhaps changing your activities, and oftentimes we have to manipulate the foot to function better — reduce that stress and get that fascia to feel better. There are various other treatments. Sometimes we use injections and different exercises — a lot of times those things are short-term. Our goal, obviously, with plantar fasciitis as well as with any other foot condition is to provide long-term relief so you can get back to doing the things you love to do.