Conditions that are commonly mistaken for plantar fasciitis are arthritis, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome, stress fractures, heel spurs, Achilles tendonitis and even Baxter's nerve entrapment.
These conditions also share symptoms that are similar like heel pain, although they also have different underlying causes, which require a professional diagnosis for effective treatment.
Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis can cause heel pain and stiffness and can mimic plantar fasciitis symptoms and can often also affect multiple joints.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome is a nerve compression that can cause tingling or burning and in addition to pain on the sole of the foot.
Stress Fractures such as small cracks in the bones of your foot or heel can also cause localized pain and swelling which can be mistaken for plantar fasciitis.
Heel spurs are a bony growth on the heel bone, which can also cause pain, but the pain often also decreases with more walking, unlike plantar fasciitis in which the pain may get worse when walking.
Achilles Tendonitis involves inflammation of the Achilles tendon at the back of your heel.
And while plantar fasciitis pain is under the foot near the heel, Achilles tendonitis pain is often at the back of the heel.
Baxter's Nerve Entrapment is a pinching of the inferior calcaneal nerve, which can cause symptoms that are nearly identical to those of plantar fasciitis, like pain on the bottom of your heel.
If you have plantar fasciitis you will feel the pain in your heel or arch and it's often a sharp, stabbing or even burning sensation and is often worse with your first steps in the morning or after any periods of rest.
The plantar fasciitis pain is located in the thick band of tissue that is called the plantar fascia, which connects your heel to your toes on the bottom of your foot.
A hallmark symptom of plantar fasciitis is sharp, stabbing heel pain, especially when taking your first steps in the morning or after a period of rest.
The sharp, stabbing heel pain with plantar fasciitis often lessens with activity, but can also come back or return after long periods of standing or with prolonged exercise and the sharp stabbing pain may also be felt in the arch of your foot.
The root cause of plantar fasciitis is not really known.
However it's believed that the root cause of plantar fasciitis is a result of a combination of factors which result in inflammation of the plantar fascia.
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot.
Factors that can play a role in developing of plantar fasciitis are overuse, poor foot mechanics, tight calf muscles, foot structure issues, age, trauma, biomechanical imbalances and improper footwear.
Wearing shoes that don't provide proper and adequate support or cushioning can contribute to development of plantar fasciitis.
Misalignments in your foot or lower body can also disrupt the normal forces that act on the plantar fascia.
And a sudden injury to your foot can damage your plantar fascia.
Plantar fasciitis is also more common in middle aged adults although it can occur in anyone of any age.
And certain foot shapes, like high arches or flat feet can also predispose people to plantar fasciitis.
Calf tightness can pull on the plantar fascia and cause inflammation and pronation which is inward rolling of the foot or supination, "outward rolling of the foot" can also place excessive strain on the fascia and repeated stress on the plantar fascia from activities like running, standing for long periods or running can result in plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is a common condition which causes inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from the heel of your toes.