Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common pain conditions of the foot; in fact, it is the most prevalent cause of foot pain encountered in clinical practice. Though athletes frequently experience plantar fasciitis, even those not involved in active lifestyles also experience this condition.

While its name might lead one to think of it as an inflammatory condition (the "itis" suffix), new data suggests otherwise. There is mounting evidence that many common tendinitis complaints are actually not inflammatory problems at all, but instead are caused by a degeneration of the collagen matrix within the tissue. It has been suggested that plantar fasciitis is similar to these tendon pathologies, and that the problem is collagen degeneration in the fascial tissue. To help understand how this occurs, consider the mechanical function of the plantar fascia.

The plantar fascia has an attachment at the anterior calcaneus, and then separates into distal divisions that blend with other connective tissues near the metatarsophalangeal joints (see Figure 1). Its primary function is to help maintain the longitudinal arch of the foot. In addition, the plantar fascia acts as a powerful spring that has a fundamental role in shock absorption and forward propulsion.

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