Plantar Fasciitis
Pronunciation: PLAN-tar fash-ee-EYE-tis
Inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue running along the bottom of the foot, commonly managed in orthotics with customised insoles or foot orthoses.
Full Definition
Plantar fasciitis is a clinical diagnosis describing degeneration and inflammation of the plantar fascia, which connects the heel bone to the toes. It is a frequent indication for custom and prefabricated foot orthoses in orthotics practice. Editors working in orthotics and podiatry documents must note the correct spelling—'fasciitis' (double 'i'), not 'fasciatis' or 'fascitis'—as misspelling is extremely common. The term should not be confused with 'plantar fibromatosis,' which is a different pathological condition of the same structure.
Usage
Usage note: Note the double 'i' in 'fasciitis.' Do not conflate with 'plantar fasciosis,' which denotes degenerative (non-inflammatory) change. Lowercase unless starting a sentence.
In Context
- "Custom foot orthoses with medial arch support are a first-line intervention for plantar fasciitis." — Orthotics clinical guideline
- "The copyeditor flagged 'fascitis' as a misspelling; the correct form is 'fasciitis.'" — Manuscript review note