Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition most commonly associated with a shooting pain in the heel.
It is caused by pain located in the plantar fascia tissue which spans along the bottom of your foot, connecting your toes and heel bone together.
Many people suffering from this common foot condition notice pain when they first get up in the morning.
The foot pain often becomes worse when weight is applied to the sore area but may decrease after the foot becomes stretched.
Pain from plantar fasciitis may also be triggered when you start walking after you have been sitting or resting for an extended period of time.
Preventing Plantar Fasciitis - 10 Risk Factors to Understand While many people experience heel and foot pain at some point in their lives, there are certain factors that are associated with the onset of plantar fasciitis.
If you are interested in preventing this painful foot condition, consider these 10 risk factors:

1. Pronation in your Foot - Does your foot tend to roll inward while you are walking or jogging?
2. Inflexible Ankle Joint - Are your ankles stiff? Limited ankle dorsiflexion is sometimes associated with plantar fasciitis.
   
3. Being Overweight - Extra weight can cause additional stress on your plantar fascia, causing irritation.
   
4. Certain Types of Footwear - Shoes without adequate cushion and support may increase your risk.
   
5. Sudden Increase in Physical Activity - Sudden increases in activity may cause too much pressure to be put on the plantar fascia, damaging fibers, and leading to long term pain.
   
6. Jogging / Running - Plantar fasciitis is sometimes caused by overuse.
   Running on certain types of surfaces may also be a factor.
   
7. Dancing / Aerobics - Repetitive jumping or pounding over extended periods of time may lead to inflammation of the plantar fascia.
   
8. Certain Types of Jobs - Occupations where you are engaged in extended weight-bearing activities or required to stand on hard surfaces for long periods of time may put you at increased risk.
   
9. Hormones - Low estrogen levels in women engaged in athletic activities may make the collagen of the foot less elastic, increasing the risk of plantar fasciitis.
   
10. Extremely Low or High Arches - Your arches can affect how your weight shifts when you are standing, walking, running or doing other types of physical activities, leading to additional pressure on your plantar fascia.
    

If you are experiencing foot pain and think you might be suffering from plantar fasciitis, you may want to seek help from a qualified orthopedic doctor or sports medicine professional for diagnosis and treatment options.