13 Plantar Fasciitis Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

Plantar Fasciitis, otherwise known as heel pain, is a common condition that affects about 10 percent of people during their lifetime.

Here are some fun plantar fasciitis facts about this condition that you probably didn’t know:

1. You are most likely to suffer from plantar fasciitis between the ages of 40 and 60. You’re more likely to suffer from heel pain during this age range because the plantar fascia, or band of tissue that runs from the heel to the ball of your foot, begins to lose its elasticity as we age.
2. Obesity was found to be a factor when diagnosing 70% plantar fasciitis cases.
3. Heel spurs were present in about 50% of plantar fasciitis cases. Heel spurs are often caused as a result of plantar fasciitis due to trauma the plantar fascia tendon has undergone. But it’s important to note that you don’t have to have a heel spur to suffer from plantar fasciitis.
4. An average of one million patients every year go to the doctor’s office due to plantar fasciitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
5. If you have flat feet you are more likely to experience plantar fasciitis. Due to the absence of arches in flat feet, your feet cannot absorb the impact of everyday mobility the same way you would if you had arches. As a result, this can cause excessive strain on the plantar fascia. Likewise, high arches can also lead to plantar fascia pain.
6. Surgery has led to favorable outcomes in over 75% of patients who underwent the procedure, but surgery is rarely needed for this condition.
7.  Supportive footwear has helped 14% of people with plantar fasciitis symptoms, according to one study¹.
8. Standing still can cause heel pain. Standing for long periods of time can strain the plantar fascia and lead to plantar fasciitis.
9. Custom orthotics have shown to help provide relief and prevent flare-ups of plantar fasciitis.
10. Eighty percent of patients have experienced improvement from wearing night splints, according to a study².
11.  Runners are more susceptible to plantar fasciitis. The impact of running can put added stress on the plantar fascia and cause heel pain.
12.  The plantar fascia ligament absorbs as much weight as a fully loaded cement truck.
13. Women are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis than men. Between poor footwear choices (high heels) and the fact that women walk an average of 3 miles more every day than the average man, women are more susceptible to developing heel pain.

 If you are experiencing heel pain and want to have a foot evaluation by one of our podiatrists, please call 336-375-6990 or click here to request an appointment.

 

 

1. Wolgin, M., Cook, C., Graham, C., & Mauldin, D. (1994). Conservative Treatment of Plantar Heel Pain: Long-Term Follow-Up. Foot & Ankle International,15(3), 97-102. doi:10.1177/107110079401500303
2. Young, C., Rutherford, D., & Niedfeldt, M. (2001). Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis. Am Fam Physician. 63(3):467-475.

 

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