Plantar Fasciitis: Causes & Symptoms
What Is the Plantar Fascia?
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue running from your heel bone to your toes. It absorbs shock and supports the arch when you walk.
Key Symptoms
- Sharp, tearing pain with first steps in the morning
- Stinging sensation in the heel or arch area
- Pain when standing up after sitting for a long time
- Gets worse with prolonged walking or standing
- Pain around the Achilles tendon area
- Can start in one foot and spread to the other (in my case, right foot → left foot)
Common Causes
- Wrong shoes — Worn-out insoles, shoes without proper support
- Tight calf muscles — Sitting for long periods contracts calves, putting excess tension on fascia
- Body weight — More weight means more stress on your feet
- Sudden activity — Running suddenly without warming up
💡 I visited 2 clinics but doctors only focused on the foot. Medicine and physical therapy did nothing. After 4 years, stretching calf and thigh muscles was the fundamental solution. No doctor I visited mentioned this — I learned it from a YouTube doctor.