Hi, I am Dr. Satwinder Gosal with The Center for Morton’s Neuroma. Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. Your plantar fascia consists of three bands of ligaments that start from the insertion point in your heel to the ball of your foot. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation and stress of plantar fascia resulting in small tears and pain. People suffering from plantar fasciitis often say that the first steps of the day are the most painful. They also complained of pain with walking after sitting for more than half an hour. The pain will usually subside after a few minutes of walking. Plantar fasciitis painusually also subsides at rest and should not keep you up at night. The pain can be varied from all the way from a dull ache to a sharp stabbing pain of the heel. Plantar fasciitis can occur due to many reasons such as trauma, repetitive stress injury, poor biomechanics and non supportive shoes. Risk factors include obesity, repetitive injury, stress, high arch foot, overpronation, recently increased activity and cap tightness due to lack of stretching. Heel spurs can also be present in people with plantar fasciitis but are not the cause of pain. The key to successful treatment is to get treatment early.