Secondary Conditions Resulting From Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, the band of tissue that supports the foot arch and absorbs load during standing or walking. It is a common cause of foot pain that occurs when the plantar fascia is overstretched, leading to micro-tears and inflammation. Other symptoms include swelling, tenderness, and stabbing pain at the bottom of the foot, and it may lead to further problems if left untreated.

Can Plantar Fasciitis Cause More Problems?

Generally, plantar fasciitis will resolve on its own with conservative treatment within a period—the earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis. However, many people often do not attend to the symptoms of plantar fasciitis until complications have set in.

At this stage, treating plantar fasciitis may require surgical intervention to prevent total or permanent damage to the plantar fascia. When left untreated, plantar fasciitis can lead to secondary problems like gait abnormality, flat feet deformity, and pain in the ankle, knee, hip, and lower back.

Secondary Conditions Caused by Plantar Fasciitis

We consider in more detail some of the secondary conditions that can result from plantar fasciitis:

• Back pain The back, hip, knee, and ankle form a kinematic chain through which weight is transferred during movement. Pain in the heel will alter body mechanics as you subconsciously adjust your gait to compensate. Over time, you can expect pain in every part of the kinetic chain, including the back.
• Heel spur Following the micro-tears to the plantar fascia, there is a gradual depositing of calcium into the tear. The calcium deposition leads to a heel spur that can become painful as it increases in size. The similar pain symptoms of plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are why they can often be misdiagnosed for each other.
• Flattening of the longitudinal arch of the foot and heel hypoesthesia
• Total fascia rupture
• Osteoarthritis