Effect of foot orthoses as treatment for plantar fasciitis or heel pain.

CLINICAL SCENARIO Plantar fasciitis is a debilitating and painful problem present in the general population. It most often presents with moderate to severe pain in the proximal inferior heel region and is most commonly associated with repeated trauma to the plantar fascia. Plantar fasciitis, itself, is an injury at the site of attachment at the medial tubercle of the calcaneus, often due to excessive and repetitive traction. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain and is estimated to affect 2 million people in the United States alone. FOCUSED CLINICAL QUESTION For adults suffering from plantar fasciitis, are foot orthoses a viable treatment option to reduce pain?