Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the fibrous tissue (plantar fascia) along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis can cause intense heel pain.

Plantar fasciitis often occurs if a person has a very flat/dropped arch and wears non supportive footwear enhancing stress and pulling on the plantar fascia.  Tight calves/heel cords, recent  weight gain, changes in hormones related to pregnancy (which can make ligaments more lax), performing a new activity such as walking, running, gardening with rest position on balls of feet, hill climbing/hiking and prolonged standing and or walking on cement floors have all been culprits of onset of plantar fasciitis. 

Recommendations: consider an evaluation from a physical therapist to have your posture, flexibilty and foot mechanics thoroughly assessed.

Try ice massage to arch and heel of foot, trial self massage to arch of foot or roll arch on a golf ball in the seated position. Implement calf stretching, use of over counter arch supports and wear supportive footwear for daily job and recreational activities. Avoid walking barefoot and use of flip flops as this can aggravate the symptoms.

Some treatments that may be considered in PT would be manual soft tissue work, modalities such as ultrasound, cupping or instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, therapeutic taping, education in therapeutic exercise and recommendation in appropriate orthotics (arch supports).