Foot pain doesn't always equal plantar fasciitis. The condition is incredibly common, with about one in ten people developing plantar fasciitis in their lifetime. It is one of the most popular foot disorders, but not the only one.

How do you know if you're dealing with plantar fasciitis or something more serious? Read below to get familiar with the signs and symptoms of plantar fasciitis, and get to the bottom of your foot pain.   

Classic Symptoms

• Pain or discomfort immediately upon waking up or after resting. The pain gets worse as the day progresses.
• Pain that gets worse after standing for extended periods of time, climbing stairs or walking on your toes.
• Discomfort that begins once you start exercising, but stops during the workout. Pain typically starts again after the workout is over.
• Pain is centralized in the heel and drifts up to the arch of the foot.

 People commonly confuse plantar fasciitis with arthritis or tarsal tunnel syndrome. They have similar symptoms but very few distinct differences. For example, tarsal tunnel syndrome is marked by pain in the heel, but also includes numbness and tingling in the arch of the foot.

Arthritis pain is also similar to plantar fasciitis pain but is typically focused in the joints and bones of the feet. Understanding these variations is an essential part of diagnosis and finding the best treatment solution.  

What Happens Next?

You may initially write off plantar fasciitis pain as a minor irritation, but the condition can develop gradually, over time becoming a part of your daily life. As it gets worse, you'll deal with heel pain every morning, discomfort as you move throughout the day and may be forced to stop some of your regular activities. Plantar fasciitis is common among runners, or highly active individuals, and can cause longer than expected recovery times.

Weight-bearing activities such as walking, running or jumping become difficult to complete without experiencing pain. If plantar fasciitis isn't treated the pain can become constant.  

What Can You Do?

• Raised Arch Support: The built-in arch support stabilizes the foot while supporting several muscle groups and reducing stress on your joints.
• Rocker Bottom Sole: As you walk the rocker bottom sole sways with your weight, reducing stress and tension on the heels.
• Compressible Inner Heel: The compressible medial heel firmly cushions the heel at the point of insertion, where the pain is most severe.
• Non-compressible Outer Heel: The structural outer heel is non-compressible to prevent the foot from guarding and guides each step into a normal heel strike.
• Metatarsal Bar: The metatarsal bar offloads the ball of the foot to reduce pain at the MTP joints, which can help with Morton’s neuroma and plantar fasciitis.
• Durable Outsole: Our newest feature supports extended use and outdoor wear, so you can enjoy long-term relieve.