Plantar fascia injuries are often degenerative and occur with age and with overuse. These degenerative injuries were previously termed plantar fasciitis but are now more commonly, and correctly, referred to as plantar fasciosis. This is because they are degenerative and not inflammatory injuries. The nature of the plantar fascia is that it is like a ligament, with dense strong tissue connecting the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints of the toes with the calcaneus/ heel bone.
With the plantar fascia sitting underneath the medial/ inner side arch of the foot, foot biomechanics are intimately involved with the development of plantar fasciosis. Where pes planus/ "flat feet", or excessive pronation/ “rolling” of the foot, are present, there is increased loading of the plantar fascia especially with weightbearing activity (e.g. standing, walking, or running).
As the plantar fascia is like a ligament, treatment options are more limited than the many traditional treatment options for muscle or tendon injury. As a result, critical elements of treatment are to appropriately control the foot, and to manage weightbearing loading. Despite this, plantar fasciosis may become chronic and require more invasive therapies such as guided injections.
For more information, including treatment options, see the "Plantar Fasciosis/Fasciitis/ “Heel Spur" section in the FixitDoc app.
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