Plantar fasciitis is another ailment that is inappropriately named. The suffix -itis implies an inflammatory process, and much like tendinopathy, inflammation is not significant and therefore not a cause of the pain for this condition.
Instead, plantar fasciitis is the presence of adhesion formation within the fascial matrix of the plantar fascia—a thick band of connective tissue that supports the undersurface of your foot.
The hallmark symptom of plantar fasciitis is an intense, sharp pain on the inner half of the bottom of the heel. This pain will most often be significantly worse in the morning when you first try to walk after getting out of bed, and it is common to experience some relief as you continue to walk and move. This condition is often debilitating and can result in the inability to walk.