What is plantar fasciitis? Symptoms and causes

Heel pain is one of the most characteristic symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Even so, not all pain in that area means you have it. Here we explain what plantar fasciitis is, what its main symptoms are and which factors make it more likely to develop.

In this article

1. What is plantar fasciitis?
2. Plantar fasciitis symptoms
3. How to tell if you have plantar fasciitis
4. Causes of plantar fasciitis

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that runs along the sole of the foot from the heel to the toes, becomes irritated or inflamed, causing pain mainly around the heel.

The plantar fascia helps support the arch of the foot and plays a part in every step, which means it takes on load each time we walk, run or spend time standing. When this band of tissue is repeatedly overloaded, plantar fasciitis can develop. That's why it is more common in people who do high-impact sports such as running, who work on their feet for long hours or who are overweight.

Plantar fasciitis symptoms

The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain, especially on the inner side of the foot. It's also common to feel discomfort or tenderness in the arch of the foot, or even a sense of stiffness in the sole.

At first glance, these seem like fairly general symptoms, but one of the keys to recognising plantar fasciitis is when the pain appears. The most common times are:

• With your first steps of the day, just after getting out of bed, which is usually when the pain feels most intense.
• After sitting down or resting for a long time.
• After spending many hours on your feet.
• During or after exercise.

It's also very common for the pain to be worse after a period of rest and to ease once you start walking. This is because the fascia is tighter after you've been still and gradually loosens up as you move.

If your symptoms sound like plantar fasciitis, take a look at our guide How to treat plantar fasciitis: treatment options and advice.

And if you'd like to start with one of the simplest ways to ease the pain, you can also read Plantar fasciitis exercises: stretches and an at-home routine.

How to tell if you have plantar fasciitis

If the pain is concentrated in the heel, is especially bad when you get up or after sitting for a while, and eases a little once you start walking, it fits quite well with plantar fasciitis.

That said, not all heel pain is plantar fasciitis. It's best to let a professional identify it based on your symptoms and an examination of your foot.

If the pain doesn't follow this pattern, is very severe, comes with tingling or loss of sensation, or doesn't improve over time, it's worth getting it checked to rule out other causes.

Causes of plantar fasciitis

There is rarely a single cause behind plantar fasciitis. It most often develops when the plantar fascia takes on more load than it can handle over a period of time, whether due to an increase in activity, long hours on your feet or a combination of several factors.

The main causes and factors linked to plantar fasciitis include:

• Increased physical activity: running longer distances, training harder or returning to sport after a break suddenly increases the load on the foot.
• Spending many hours on your feet: especially when combined with a lot of walking or working on hard surfaces.
• Being overweight: a higher body weight places a constant extra load on the feet and is one of the factors most clearly associated with plantar fasciitis.
• Sports with repeated impact: running, jumping or playing sports in which the foot takes constant impact increases the work the fascia has to do.

Flat feet, high arches, pronation, ankle mobility and the type of footwear are also often linked to plantar fasciitis, but the evidence here is less clear. They may influence how load is distributed, but it has not been shown that any of them, on their own, causes plantar fasciitis.

In short, there is no single cause: it usually develops through a combination of load, habits and individual characteristics.

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