Plantar Fasciitis
Pronunciation: PLAN-tar fash-ee-EYE-tis
An inflammatory condition of the plantar fascia at the heel, commonly managed with foot orthoses; a frequent diagnostic term appearing in orthotic referral documents.
Full Definition
Plantar fasciitis is the degeneration or inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick connective tissue supporting the arch of the foot, typically causing heel pain. It is one of the most common conditions prompting referral for custom foot orthoses. Orthotic intervention aims to redistribute plantar pressure, offload the fascia, and correct biomechanical contributors such as overpronation. Editors working on orthotic clinical documents should note the correct spelling—'fasciitis' (double 'i'), not 'fascitis'—and the preferred pronunciation. The condition is sometimes misspelled or mislabelled as 'plantar fascia syndrome' in informal notes.
Usage
Usage note: Spell as 'fasciitis' (two 'i's). Do not conflate with heel spur syndrome, which may co-exist but is a distinct radiological finding.
In Context
- "The referral indicated a six-month history of plantar fasciitis unresponsive to physiotherapy." — Orthotic referral form
- "The editor corrected 'plantars fasciitis' to 'plantar fasciitis' throughout the patient report." — Clinical document proofreading