Plantar fasciitis is a painful irritation of the plantar fascia, the connective-tissue tendon plate on the sole of the foot that stabilises the longitudinal arch. The complaints most commonly occur at the attachment of the fascia at the heel bone.
Typical is local pain on pressure and loading at the inner heel, especially as start-up pain after rest and with the first steps in the morning. Frequently associated factors are overload, shortened calf muscles, unsuitable footwear and foot deformities. It should be distinguished from the bony plantar heel spur, which often appears as an incidental X-ray finding.