Plantar fasciitis (PF) is an inflammatory condition that affects the fibrous tissue along the bottom of the foot. It causes severe pain when the person stands for the first time after a long rest period or upon awakening in the morning.
The pain can last for months, causes limping, and may require surgery before it goes away. The exact cause of this problem remains a mystery. Many studies have been done to find out what’s going on. Some scientists have measured the blood flow to the foot.
Others have used ultrasound to measure the thickness of the fascia. They tried to relate thickness to arch angles and pain levels. It’s clear that the arch angle has something to do with it. The ratio of height-to-length is known to be a factor.
People with low arches seem to be at risk, too. This position of the foot may put increased load on the fascia causing microdamage and the resulting pain. But the fact that not everyone with low arches develops plantar fasciitis suggests some other factors.
Women do seem more prone to PF so maybe there are hormonal factors. And women going through menopause have an increased incidence of this problem. It may be more likely gender-linked than hereditary but this has not been proven one way or the other yet.