Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition of the foot that affects approximately 1 out of 8 people during the course of their life. It is marked by burning pain just in front of the heel, which can extend to the arch of the foot, and is often worsened after a night's sleep or a long period of sitting. It is caused when a ligament that attaches to the heel bone becomes inflamed. If this ligament, called the fascia, in the foot is stretched too far when walking or running, it can become irritated or torn. Diagnosing the problem early will prevent further damage, such as ligament ruptures. Leaving the condition untreated for too long, can result in long healing times, upwards of a year and a half or more.

Some of the causes of plantar fasciitis may include excessive running or even walking uphill, a lack of stretching prior to exercise, wearing flexible, soft shoes that don't protect your feet, and injuries to the planter fascia. In addition, wearing ill-fitting or poorly made shoes can also lead to this painful condition. Any of these situations can results in the arch of the foot being flattened excessively, damaging the fascia.

People who suffer from plantar fasciitis receive the most relief and benefit through the wearing of corrective shoes. Specialty footwear can be found for a variety of uses, such as running shoes and walking shoes, as well as dressier options. This type of footwear is designed with additional padding and support that protects the sensitive fascia, and comes in a large variety of styles and sizes. This footwear has excellent structural support and cushioning, which relieves pressure and pain and keeps the whole foot protected, especially the heel area.

By switching to corrective footwear specifically designed for plantar fasciitis, sufferers can experience great relief and avoid surgery down the road.