
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Plantar fasciitis overview
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Plantar fasciitis, formerly known as “policeman’s heel”, is a painful inflammatory condition caused by excessive wear to the plantar fascia of the foot or biomechanical faults that cause abnormal pronation of the foot.[1] The pain usually is felt on the underside of the heel, and is often most intense with the first steps of the day. It is commonly associated with long periods of weight bearing. Obesity, weight gain, jobs that require a lot of walking on hard surfaces, shoes with little or no arch support, and inactivity are also associated with the condition.
This condition often results in a heel spur on the calcaneus, in which case it is the underlying condition, and not the spur itself, which produces the pain.[1]
References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Barrett SJ, O’Malley R (1999). “Plantar fasciitis and other causes of heel pain”. American family physician. 59 (8): 2200–6. PMID 10221305.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
