Where is plantar fasciitis located

The major complaint of those with plantar fasciitis is pain at the bottom of the heel or sometimes at the bottom mid-foot area. It usually affects just one foot, but it can affect both feet. Pain from plantar fasciitis develops gradually over time. The pain can be dull or sharp. Some people feel a burning or ache on the bottom of the foot extending outward from the heel. Climbing stairs can be very difficult due to heel stiffness. After prolonged activity, the pain can flare up due to increased irritation or inflammation.

Active men and women between the ages of 40 and 70 are at the highest risk for developing plantar fasciitis. Women who are pregnant often experience bouts of plantar fasciitis, particularly during late pregnancy. This is due to the increased pressure on your plantar fascia ligaments, especially if you have sudden weight gain.

If you have structural foot problems, such as very high arches or very flat feet , you may develop plantar fasciitis. Tight Achilles tendons , which are the tendons attaching your calf muscles to your heels, may also result in plantar fascia pain.

Simply wearing shoes with soft soles and poor arch support can also result in plantar fasciitis. Your doctor will perform a physical exam to check for tenderness in your foot and the exact location of the pain. During the evaluation, they may ask you to flex your foot while they push on the plantar fascia to see if the pain gets worse as you flex and better as you point your toe.

Your doctor will evaluate the strength of your muscles and the health of your nerves by checking your:. An X-ray or an MRI scan may be necessary to check that nothing else is causing your heel pain, such as a bone fracture.

Home treatments like rest, icing, and using braces and anti-inflammatory drugs are often the first ways to treat plantar fasciitis. Your doctor can do this in their office. Your doctor may use an ultrasound device to help determine the best place for the injection. They can also apply corticosteroids to the skin of your heel or the arch of your foot, and then apply a painless electrical current to let the steroid pass through your skin and into the muscle.

Physical therapy is a key part of treatment for plantar fasciitis. It can help stretch your plantar fascia and Achilles tendons. A physical therapist can show you exercises to strengthen your lower leg muscles, helping to stabilize your walk and lessen the workload on your plantar fascia. In this therapy, sound waves bombard your heel to stimulate healing within the ligament.

Side effects of this treatment can include:. Surgery is the most dramatic therapy. This is done only in cases in which pain is severe or lasts more than 6 to 12 months. In a plantar fascia release, your surgeon partially detaches the plantar fascia from the heel bone.

This reduces tension, but weakens the arch of the foot, and full function may be lost. If you have a hard time flexing your feet even after consistent stretching, your doctor may recommend gastrocnemius recession. This surgery involves lengthening the calf muscle to increase ankle motion and release stress on the plantar fascia. Surgery can result in chronic pain and nerve damage, so it should be considered only after trying other treatment options. Gentle stretches can help relieve and even prevent plantar fasciitis.

Stretching your calves and the plantar fascia itself helps loosen your muscles and reduce heel pain.

Swimming and other low-impact activities can let you exercise without worsening your heel pain. When you start running again, be sure to begin slowly. Stop and stretch while exercising to keep the pain from returning. Remember to stretch before beginning your workouts, too. Stretches for plantar fasciitis are easy to do. Learn the right stretches to help heal and prevent plantar fasciitis. Initial home treatment includes staying off your feet and applying ice for 15 to 20 minutes, three or four times per day to reduce swelling.

You can also try reducing or changing your exercise activities. Using arch supports in your shoes, replacing worn-out athletic footwear, and doing stretching exercises may also help to relieve pain. Night splints are another treatment that can help stretch your calf and the arch of your foot. Night splints are a type of brace that holds your foot in a flexed position and lengthens the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon overnight. This can prevent morning pain and stiffness.

Sometimes the pain can be sudden, occurring after missing a step or jumping from a height. The pain tends to be the worst when you get up in the morning or after other periods of inactivity. The degree of discomfort can sometimes lessen with activity during the day or after warming up but it can become worse after prolonged or vigorous activity.

The pain may also appear more intense in bare feet or in shoes with minimal support. Plantar fasciitis is one of many conditions causing heel pain. Some other possible causes include:. Plantar fasciitis can be distinguished from these and other conditions based on medical history and examination by a physician.

Heel spurs are often wrongly thought to be the sole cause of heel pain. Although they are common, they are nothing more than the bone's response to traction or pulling forces from the plantar fascia and other foot muscles. A truly enlarged and problematic spur requiring surgery is rare. In general, the longer the symptoms have been present and the more severe the pain, the longer the treatment may take.

Additionally, high-demand athletes, such as cross-country or marathon runners, may require a longer course of treatment. Stretching is one of the best treatments for plantar fasciitis. Stretching should be focused on the plantar fascia and the Achilles tendon. A physical therapist can show you stretching exercises that you can repeat at home several times a day.

Along with stretching, the exercises can also strengthen your lower leg muscles, helping stabilize your ankle. Icing the sore spot on your sole several times a day may help with pain and inflammation. Your doctor may also recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. It helps to keep the weight and stress off your foot, at least partially, while your plantar fascia is healing.

Your plantar fascia is in the shape of a bowstring, supporting the arch of your foot and absorbing shock when you walk. If tension and stress on this bowstring become too great, small tears can occur in the fascia. Repeated stretching and tearing can irritate or inflame the fascia, although the cause remains unclear in many cases of plantar fasciitis.

Even though plantar fasciitis can develop without an obvious cause, some factors can increase your risk of developing this condition. They include:. Ignoring plantar fasciitis may result in chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities.

Changing the way you walk as a way to relieve plantar fasciitis pain might lead to foot, knee, hip or back problems. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Plantar fasciitis Open pop-up dialog box Close.