By Dr Carla Cupido • April 29th, 2008

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that affects an assortment of individuals. It plagues those who are highly involved in sports as well as those who are sedentary and often a bit overweight. Despite the variety of people it targets, one and all feel the same: frustrated! Fortunately, it can be a simple condition to manage.

For those of you who have evaded an attack of the dreaded plantar fasciitis and are not quite sure what it is, here is an explanation for you. The plantar fascia is a taught band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel bone (calcaneous) to the toes (proximal phalanges). Fascia refers to a web-like sheet or broad band of fibrous connective tissue deep to the skin, around muscles, muscle fibers, and other organs of the body. The function of the plantar fascia is to support the longitudinal arch of the foot as well as aid in the biomechanics of the propulsion phase of gait.

Plantar fasciitis is most commonly caused by either hyperpronation (flat feet), hypersupination (high arches), or excess body weight increasing the load on the plantar fascia. Hyperpronation of the foot is when the inside of the ankle rolls towards the ground, the front foot toes-out, the leg rotates inwards in relation to the foot, and the foot points up towards the sky. Hypersupination of the foot is when the outside of the ankle rolls towards the ground, the front foot toes-in, and the foot points down towards the ground.

Since the front foot turns out in hyperpronation, there is a stretching effect that is placed on the plantar fascia which leads to repetitive tension overload. Supinated feet are quite rigid and are therefore poor shock absorbers. The forces that are usually absorbed through the movement of the foot and ankle are instead transmitted through the plantar fascia and lower leg, again leading to repetitive overload. Both of these forms of overload are what cause the characteristic sharp heel pain that travels along the bottom of the inside of the foot. Individuals experience this pain most severely upon standing subsequent to long durations off of their feet as the fascia tightens while not in use....

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Location:  Vancouver, CA

Dr. Cupido graduated from McMaster University with a degree in the Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology program. She went on to attend the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College from which she graduated as a Doctor of Chiropractic with...