Chapter 9: Rehabbing Running Injuries
Plantar Fasciitis: Anatomy and Function of the Plantar Fascia
An Excerpt from “Healthy Running Step by Step” By Robert Forster, P.T. & Roy M. Wallack
The plantar fascia is a tight band of dense connective tissue on the bottom of the foot extending from the heel to the base of the toes. When you move your body forward over a weight- bearing foot, the toes are extended and lifted upward, winding the plantar fascia taut like a skin over a drum. This action helps transform the foot from a flexible structure able to adapt to variations in the walking surface, to a rigid lever that supports the foot while it’s on the ground, by limiting the degree that the arch collapses as the body moves forward over the foot.