Sometimes ball-of-foot pain is mistakenly assumed to be derived from plantar fasciitis. A dull pain or numbness in the metatarsal region of the foot could instead be metatarsalgia , also called capsulitis. Some current studies suggest that plantar fasciitis is not actually inflamed plantar fascia, but merely an inflamed flexor digitorum brevis muscle (FDB) belly. Ultrasound evidence illustrates fluid within the FDB muscle belly, not the plantar fascia. citation needed Treatment edit 3)Many patients feel a searing or sharp pain when they first get on their feet after a period of rest. This may subside to a dull ache as the day goes on. Plantar Fasciitis is the most common foot complaint and the main cause of heel pain, heel spurs and also arch pain. Millions of people suffer from Plantar Fasciitis, especially the over 50's. Fortunately for 80-90% of Plantar Fasciitis sufferers there are some very effective treatment solutions available. Plantar Fasciitis (pronounced "plantar fash-eee-eye-tiss") means litterally "inflammation of the plantar fascia". Plantar Fasciitis is also called "Policeman's Heel". Plantar Fasciitis is often associated with calcaneal spurs (heel spurs). Check shoes for flexion stability. Avoid and replace any shoe that bends before the ball of the foot. Put your flip flops in the closet and forget about them for a very long time. Physical therapy. Your doctor may recommend that you undergo physical therapy. Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation and will create an individualized treatment plan for you based on your symptoms, needs and goals. Physical therapy treatments may include stretching, exercises to strengthen your muscles, taping and use of electrotherapeutic modalities. In addition, your therapist may recommend modifications of your shoes. If you have planted fasciitis , talk to your doctor immediately to find out treatment methods and what would work best for you. Only a doctor can tell you it is a more serious condition, or of anything else is required other than just a basic treatment plan. Saurabh Jain is the Executive Editor of Online Back pain resource, www.backpain-resources-online.com He has developed this site to provide valuable information to people suffering from back pain. This site enumerates different causes and factors related to back pain, guides through the different back pain treatments and suggests exercises for treatments of different types of back pain. The site is a free online resource for back pain and its remedies. The visitors can also find valuable information and reviews about the different equipments and therapies for back pain relief. Visit www.backpain-resources-online.com for more information. The Achilles tendon is a group of tissues that connect the heel bone to your calf muscles. When these are inflamed, you have Achilles tendonitis. The plantar fascia is also a group of tissues; but, this links the toes to your heel. Home remedies work well for both the conditions. The treatment of plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis are almost the same. When ice packs and stretching exercises don't work for plantar fasciitis, it may be advisable for you to visit a podiatrist. A new therapy called ESWT or 'Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy' is recommended. The therapy may take about 4 months for complete cure. It is the result of tissues that are inflamed on the bottom of the foot, and when left untreated the condition can lead to the formation of bone spurs. There are two muscles in the bottom of the foot that are associated with the condition-the Quadratusplantae and the Flexor digitorumbrevis. It is just one of the many conditions that can be treated by chiropractic care. Although it may not be a cure, it is beneficial for patients in many circumstances for the alleviation of pain and the lowered quality of life that results from the condition. Tears of the plantar fascia are a less commonly found injury than either a heel spur or plantar fasciitis. They usually involve larger and more abrupt forces than the forces which allow for plantar fasciitis to develop. High speed activity develop these forces more often. The force needs to be applied to the ball of the foot. Sprinting places the foot in a position in which this could happen. Soft shoes that bend in the arch may contribute. Plantar fascia tears may also occur in baseball or softball players when sliding in to a base with the foot making contact with the base. It is a hard truth that runners have a tendency to develop foot problems. And the more you run, the more new issues may occur. One common issue that many runners encounter is plantar fasciitis, which generally presents itself as pain in the heel or the ball of the foot. If you’re a regular runner, chances are good that you have heard of it or perhaps you are wondering what it is and if you actually might have an issue with plantar fasciitis. Here is some information that may help you determine if you may have this condition and whether you need to see your local podiatrist.