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Plantar fascitis is a painful condition affecting the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia (A) is a broad band of fibrous tissue that spans from the heel bone (B) to the ball of the foot. Plantar fascitis can be caused by unsupportive shoes, prolonged standing, walking, or running on hard surfaces, or mechanical foot problems such as over-pronation (flat foot) and rigidity of the foot bones that prevents normal flexibility and shock absorption of the foot joints. When the plantar fascia is overloaded it can become inflamed and scared, hardening the tissue and causing pain. The rigid plantar fascia can start pulling at its attachment on the heel and create heel spurs. Active Release Techniques treatment is focused on breaking up scar tissue adhesions within the plantar fascia and any mechanical restrictions of the foot joints that are inhibiting normal foot motion. Usually the entire tract of tissue extending from the bottom of the foot, around the heel, up the Achilles tendon, into the calf muscles, and through the hamstrings must be evaluated and considered as possibly contributory to the problem.
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