Plantar Fasciitis Explained: Why Your Heel Hurts

Plantar fasciitis heel pain is one of the most common conditions we treat, affecting at least 10% of adults between the ages of 25 and 60.

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel bone to your toes. Think of it like the bowstring on a bow and arrow — it provides tension that helps maintain the arch of your foot. When that band is overworked or overstretched, it becomes inflamed, causing sharp, stabbing pain at the bottom of the heel.

Most people notice the pain most severely with their first few steps out of bed in the morning, or after sitting for a long period and standing back up. The pain tends to ease as you move around but can return after long periods on your feet.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

One of the biggest contributing factors to plantar fasciitis is tight calf muscles. When the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles in the back of your leg are too tight, they put extra tension on the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia, making the condition worse over time.

How Is Plantar Fasciitis Treated?

At Brighton Foot & Ankle, Dr. Castelein uses a three-step conservative approach that resolves plantar fasciitis in about 90% of patients:

1. Stretching exercises — focused on lengthening the calf muscles to take pressure off the plantar fascia
2. Supportive orthotics — a firm, supportive insole that stabilizes the foot and reduces inflammation
3. Anti-inflammatory medication — oral or injected to provide faster pain relief

For patients who don’t improve with conservative care, surgical options including an endoscopic plantar fasciotomy or gastrocnemius recession are available and typically have patients walking the same day.

If you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis heel pain, don’t wait it out. Contact Brighton Foot & Ankle today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Castelein.