Plantar Fasciitis

Stabbing heel pain with the first steps of the morning or after sitting, from degeneration and overload of the plantar fascia — the thick band supporting the arch. It is the most common cause of heel pain, strongly linked to tight calves, sudden activity increases, and unsupportive footwear, and most cases resolve within months with consistent loading work.

Evidence synthesis: High-load strength training and plantar fascia-specific stretching have randomised trial support as the most effective conservative treatments, outperforming passive modalities. Tight gastrocnemius/soleus muscles are a well-documented driver, and calf stretching reduces first-step pain in trials. NSAIDs and ice help short-term symptoms but do not change the course; corticosteroid injections give fast relief but carry rupture risk and worse long-term outcomes in follow-up data. Obesity and sudden activity spikes are established risk factors. Curcumin has general anti-inflammatory trial evidence but no plantar fasciitis-specific studies. Persistent cases beyond 6-12 months warrant imaging to exclude stress fracture, fat pad atrophy, or nerve entrapment.