Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

"The pain is worse when I get out of bed in the morning"

"It's strange. It's right in the middle of my heel - underneath"

"Sometime it hurts if I've been standing for  a long time"

"I can't put my foot down"

Plantar Fasciitis is a very painful condition. The pain is felt in the middle of the sole of the heel and is usually at its  worst, first thing in the morning . In the early stages of the condition, the pain may disappear after a few steps, but  sometimes it can become quite disabling and can last for a long time.

The plantar fascia is a structure which supports  the muscular structures on the sole of your foot.

It spans from a midpoint almost central on the heel, forwards to the metatarsal heads which are on  the 'ball' of the foot. The pain is due a pulling effect at the heel and, in the worst cases, inflammation can travel forward along the whole length of the plantar fascia.

It is very painful first thing in the morning, as most people sleep with their toes pointing down.  In this position, the plantar fascia contracts.  The next morning, when the toes are pulled up in order to start walking, there is an  enormous stretch on the heel, causing the pain.  Once the plantar fascia has stretched out, the pain may ease until there is another period of standing or inactivity.

The onset of plantar fasciitis is often associated with exercise that over-stretches the plantar fascia, such as climbing ladders, or anything that involves balancing on your toes.

In some cases the condition can become so severe that a heel spur may begin to develop where the plantar fascia originates.

If you have  these symptoms, you could very well be suffering from plantar fasciitis.