CLINIC
Plantar fasciitis is the third most common injury for runners. The tenacious issue can sometimes be tricky to treat, so there are a range of ways to tackle the injury
YOUR EXPERT
Louise Stirk practices at Pure Sports Medicine (puresportsmed.com), London. Louise has a podiatry degree and a master’s in sports medicine and an interest in understanding the biomechanics of runners, cricketers, golfers and footballers.
+ Anatomy
The plantar fascia is a band of fi brous tissue that extends from the heel bone to the metatarsal bones (ball of foot). It’s a really key area for runners because it supports the arch and takes a lot of load during walking and running.
Symptoms
Pain tends to be felt in the sole of the foot with tenderness specifi cally (but not always) around the inside of the heel. Often the first few steps in the morning are painful but this tends to gradually settle as you continue walking throughout the day. Running, walking barefoot, going onto your toes or going up stairs all tend to aggravate the pain.