Plantar Fasciitis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and Natural Approaches

Affecting about 10 percent of the U.S. population, plantar fasciitis involves pain in the thick band of tissue that runs from the toes to the heel.

Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that causes pain on the bottom of the foot, usually near the heel bone. Illustration by Fei Meng

Plantar fasciitis is characterized by pain originating from the plantar fascia, a thick tissue band that runs from the heel bone to the base of the toes. This condition typically involves pain at the attachment site of the plantar fascia to the calcaneus (heel bone). In the United States, plantar fasciitis is the leading cause of heel pain seen in outpatient settings, with an estimated 1 million to 2 million patient visits each year attributed to it.

Although the exact incidence and prevalence by age are unknown, plantar fasciitis accounts for about 10 percent of injuries in runners and 11 percent to 15 percent of all foot-related symptoms that necessitate medical attention. It affects approximately 10 percent of the general population in the United States. Its other names include policeman’s heel, heel pain syndrome, and runner’s heel.