Three arches called the transverse, medial and longitudinal make up the structure of the foot with the arches themselves being comprised of 26 individual bones. The toes contain nearly half of the total amount of bones at 14 - three for each toe except for the big one, which only gets two. It is because of this triple arch arrangement that we can negotiate varying terrains with relative ease.

The main arch associated with plantar fasciitis is the medial longitudinal arch located along the inside of the foot. The plantar fascia is a thick, wide ligament which attaches to the calcaneus (heel bone) and travels to the metatarsal heads (balls of the feet) and into the toes. If the plantar fascia is placed under an increased amount of strain, the ligament begins to over-stretch and tear. If the foot is not weight-bearing for a prolonged period of time, such as while sleeping, the body begins to lay down scar tissue in order to try healing the tear. When the person stands up again, the plantar fascia begins to stretch and the newly formed scar tissue tears. This results in the notion that the first step out of bed in the morning is when the pain is at its worst.

There are two main methods for the plantar fascia to undergo an increase in tension. One situation that increases tension is weight gain. This may be due to inactivity, an increase in caloric intake, or pregnancy. The weight gain puts more strain on the bottom of the foot causing a stretch of the medial longitudinal arch. This results in over-stretching of the plantar fascia, leading to plantar fasciitis.

A bit less common but still as painful is the effect of over-stretching and tearing of the plantar fascia ligament due to walking improperly. When we walk, most of our weight should land on the outside of the heel and transfer to the outside of the foot where we push off with our big toe and begin again. However when our foot biomechanics are off-kilter, this weight is transferred to the inside of the foot which causes the same injury as carrying too much weight.

One of the major problems concerning the foot biomechanics is the habit of rolling over too far onto the inside of the foot when we walk. This is called overpronation syndrome and is the main cause of excessive strain that is put on the medial longitudinal arch and ultimately the tearing of the plantar fascia.

Treating Plantar Fasciitis can be accomplished by either losing the extra weight if that is the source or also by rolling a golf ball lightly under the foot which helps strip down the scar tissue. Try not to press down too hard or it is possible to bruise the foot in the process. Another recommended treatment is to have your chiropractic professional adjust your foot to help with the symptoms.

The heel has two main directions in which it can move: diagonally forward or diagonally backward. Usually the heel moves backward due to tension from the Achilles tendon and from weight-bearing pressure. By adjusting the heel forward, it will relieve tension in the plantar fascia and can relieve symptoms. If these methods do not seem to offer benefit, it may be necessary to have a pair of prescription orthotics made for your feet. These are custom-fit insoles which offer support to the feet to help ensure a proper gait cycle thereby reducing the amount of strain on the plantar fascia.