Background
Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of varying degrees of in heel pain and functional loss.1,2 It is related to repetitive microtrauma of the plantar fascia.2,3 Short-term increases in body weight, being overweight, and physical activity are also risk factors for plantar fasciitis.4 Although no long-term complications have been reported, participants may experience persistent symptoms after the initial onset.4,5 These symptoms may lead to a decrease in physical activity, which may result in weight gain. In turn, the weight gain can exacerbate the symptoms or make recovery more difficult.4
Initial treatments for plantar heel pain, such as stretching, taping, or manual physical therapy, may provide short-term (1 week to 4 months) pain relief and may improve foot…