Plantar fasciitis refers to a sprain of the tendon that is connected to the frontal portion of the heel bone and runs forward along the bottom of the foot.

Plantar fasciitis can be caused by any of the following:

A walk or run in which feet flatten and roll inwardly

Wearing improperly fitted, thin soled shoes which do not have an adequate arch support

Excessive physical activity which stresses the heel bone such as running, jogging, etc.

Having flat feet or a high arch

Having diabetes

Having arthritis

The symptoms of plantar fasciitis are: an extremely sharp pain inside the bottom of the heel; the pain is worse in the morning, when climbing steps and when standing on tiptoe; there is heel pain after long periods of standing or when rising from a seated position; heel pain appears after exercising but not during the exercise.

When one has plantar fasciitis it is absolutely essential to buy proper-fitting shoes. Never, ever succumb to an "almost fit" that is too attractive to resist or compromise fit for "on sale." Your shoes should have good arch supports and flexible, thick soles. Extra padding also helps.

If the cause of plantar fasciitis was wearing improper shoes, then buying the correct shoes might eliminate the problem. Even if the plantar fasciitis was due to the other causes, having proper shoes will certainly help. Unfortunately, plantar fasciitis can become chronic.

The pain from Plantar fasciitis is worse in the morning when you first wake up. Wearing a night splint can alleviate this. The splint holds the foot and toes in a flexed position during the night. This stretches the plantar fascia and the Achilles tendon which relieves the pain. There have been scientific studies to document the effectiveness of night splints in removing pain. The splints are constructed of soft materials with Velcro closures, which won't damage sheets and blankets. They are also washable.

For daytime activities, there are arch braces which relieve stress on the plantar fascia and give relief from inflammation and pain.

Plantar fasciitis can also be helped by exercise such as rolling a golf or tennis ball with the arch of your foot. One can even purchase a special shoe shaped something like a semi-circle, which one can wear, and use to do stretching exercises. Physical therapy is also an alternative.

However, some of these products are not suitable for people with diabetes so diabetics need to check with their doctors prior to buying these. In fact, diabetics should see their doctors early before trying any home treatments.

When medical help is sought, doctors often try cortisone injections but these do not have a high success rate. Since no more than three injections are recommended, they can only be used for temporary relief. Another alternative may be extra corporeal shock wave therapy. This is in its infancy and results are mixed. Some patients have been helped; others have not. The medical profession believes additional research is necessary prior to using this extensively.

Surgery is an option but is only recommended if the pain is severe. Surgery has side effects such as an overall weakening of the arch.

At present, the best treatment seems to be a combination of home remedies, exercise and lifestyle modifications such as switching from high impact activities like running to swimming and other sports which don't put pressure on the plantar fascia.