• Arch - The arch is the curved area on the bottom of the foot between the heel and the ball.
• BMI (Body Mass Index) - Your BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a ratio of weight to height, which can be useful in determining whether you should consider gaining or losing weight. A BMI of 22-25 is considered to be normal and healthy for most people. People with a BMI over 25 are generally considered to be overweight and are therefore putting more stress on their feet than people with a BMI below 25. People with a BMI over 25 are therefore at greater risk of developing Plantar Fasciitis. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. There is a handy BMI calculator available on the R.E.S.C.U.E. Program™ page of this site.
• Calcaneal Spur Syndrome - Calcaneal Spur Syndrome is another name for Heel Spur Syndrome.
• Calcaneus - The Calcaneus is the heel bone.
• Corticosteroid Injection - A Corticosteroid Injection delivers corticosteroids, which reduce swelling, to damaged tissue via hypodermic needle. Corticosteroid injections provide short-term relief from pain and swelling; however, the long-term effectiveness of corticosteroid injections for Plantar Fasciitis has been questioned by some studies.
• Custom Orthotic - A Custom Orthotic is an Orthotic that is specifically designed to the shape and size of a particular individual's foot.
• Deep Water Running - Deep water running is an exercise that is commonly performed as a substitute to weight bearing exercises (running, walking, skiing) and can be used to treat patients suffering from injuries of the back, legs and feet.
• Dorsiflexion - When you position your foot such that your toes are pulled toward your body you are dorsiflexing your foot.
• Electric Stimulation - Electric stimulation therapy is characterized by a low voltage stimulation targeted to cause a muscle contraction. This is done by placing pads with electrodes over the muscle group to be exercised. When the stimulation is applied through the pads, the signal stimulates the muscle causing it to contract.
• Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy (surgery) - Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy is a surgery performed by inserting a highly specialized micro-camera into the heel area, visualizing the plantar fascia and detaching a portion of it from the heel bone to relieve pulling on the injured area.
• Eversion - Eversion is the technical term for tilting your foot outward along its lengthwise axis.
• Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) - Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), introduced in the early 1990s, is a procedure in which a device sends pulses of high-pressure shock or sound waves to an affected area. These shock waves are thought to break up scar tissue in the fascia thereby speeding the heeling process. There is some controversy surrounding the effectiveness of ESWT, and it is still considered by many to be an experimental procedure.
• Fan Method of Taping - Applying tape to foot using the Fan Method reduces stress to the Plantar Fascia by reinforcing the natural strength of the foot's arch.
• Fascia (pl. fasciae) - A fascia is a strip of connective tissue enveloping or binding together muscles.
• Fasciitis - Fasciitis is a swelling of the fascia.
• Flat Feet - People with flat feet have curves on the bottoms of their feet that are considered to be less pronounced than normal. The arch structure of a flat foot provides less support than normal, so more stress is placed on the plantar fascia with each step. People with flat feet tend to over-pronate, or roll their feet inward.
• Gait - An individual's gait describes the pattern of motion experienced by their body when they walk or run.
• Gastrocnemius (Gastroc) Muscle - The gastrocnemius muscle is the largest muscle in your calf.
• Gluteal Muscles - The gluteal muscles make up your buttocks.
• Hamstring Muscle - The hamstring muscle is on the back of your thigh.
• Heel Pain Syndrome - A term commonly used interchangeably with Plantar Fasciitis. The term Heel Pain Syndrome is a bit of a misnomer when referring to Plantar Fasciitis, as there are actually many possible causes of heel pain, Plantar Fasciitis being just one.
• Heel Spur - A heel spur is a buildup of calcium on the heel bone, most commonly on the bottom toward the front. Many people who have Plantar Fasciitis also have heel spurs; however, the spurs themselves are generally not the cause of heel pain associated with Plantar Fasciitis. Rather, they are the result of the body's reaction to the pain caused by microtears in the plantar fascia where it connects to the heel.
• Heel Spur Syndrome - A term commonly used interchangeably with Plantar Fasciitis. The term Heel Spur Syndrome is a bit of a misnomer when referring to Plantar Fasciitis, as not all people with Plantar Fasciitis have heel spurs, and not all people with heel spurs have problems with their Plantar Fasciae.
• High Arches - People whose feet have high arches have curves considered to be steeper than normal on the bottoms of their feet. The centers of the bottoms of their feet are therefore further from the ground when they walk, and more stress is placed on their plantar fascia as the foot tries to flatten with each step. People with high arches have stable feet, but are more likely than others to over-supinate, or roll their feet outward when walking.
• Inversion - Inversion is the technical term for tilting your foot inward along its lengthwise axis.
• Iontophoresis - Iontophoresis is the delivery of topical corticosteroids via electrical current. Corticosteroid cream is rubbed on the skin over the affected area and an electrical current is applied. Electrons push the cream through the pores of the skin. The corticosteroid cream has an anti-inflammatory effect.
• Low-Dye Method of Taping - Applying tape to foot using the Low-Dye Method counteracts pronation.
• Low Intensity Laser Therapy - Low intensity laser therapy is a form of phototherapy which involves the application of low power monochramatic and coherent light to injuries and lesions to stimulate healing.
• Magnetic Insoles - Some have theorized that magnetic fields have healing powers on damaged tissue. With this theory in mind, several companies have developed Magnetic Insoles. Some people believe that wearing Magnetic Insoles in your shoes can help cure Plantar Fasciitis. Independent studies have generally not supported this theory.
• Metatarsal Heads - The Metatarsal Heads, at the base of each of your toes, make up the ball of your foot.
• Microtears - Microtears are small breaks in the fibers of fascial tissue.
• Modified Low-Dye Method of Taping - The Modified Low-Dye Method of Taping combines the Fan Method and the Low-Dye Method to provide both arch support and a reduction of pronation.
• NSAID's - NSAID's, or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs, are taken to help control immediate pain and reduce swelling. Examples of NSAID's include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Aleve) and naproxen (Naprosyn).
• Orthotic Night Splint - A Night Splint is a device which positions your feet properly while you sleep in order to keep the plantar fascia lengthened while it heals overnight.
• Orthotics - Orthotics are specialized mechanical devices which support or supplement weakened joints or limbs. In the case of plantar fasciitis, they usually take the form of foam or gel inserts that are placed in the shoe to add cushioning and support to the foot.
• Over-the-Counter or Prefabricated Orthotic - An over-the-Counter or Prefabricated orthotic is a shoe insert that can be purchased at a drug store or shoe store and is usually much less expensive than a custom orthotic.
• Pes Cavus - Pes Cavus is the Latin term for a foot with a high arch.
• Pes Planus - Pes Planus is the Latin term for a flat foot.
• Plantar Fascia - The Plantar Fascia is a strip of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot; it attaches to the front part of the heel, fans outward toward the ball of the foot, and attaches again at the base of each of the five toes.
• Plantar Fasciitis - Plantar Fasciitis is technically defined as a swelling of the plantar fascia; however, the root cause of the heel pain associated with Plantar Fasciitis is actually microtears in the tissue. This tearing may or may not be accompanied by discernable swelling.
• Plantarflexion - When you position your foot such that your toes are pointed away from your body you are plantarflexing your foot.
• Pronate - Pronation, the opposite of supination, is the tendency to roll one's ankles inward when standing, walking or running. Over-Pronation causes stress to distribute unevenly through the plantar fascia.
• Quadriceps Muscles - The quadriceps muscles are the large muscles on the front of your thigh.
• Repetitive Load Bearing - Repetitive Load Bearing is the process of applying stress to something over and over again. Many of our daily activities, such as walking or running, are repetitive load bearing activities that focus stress on the plantar fascia.
• R.E.S.C.U.E. Program™ - The R.E.S.C.U.E. Program™ was designed by Heeling Solutions to educate people suffering from plantar fasciitis and to help them rid themselves of their heel pain. R.E.S.C.U.E. stands for Recognize, Educate, Solve, Consistency, Upkeep and Enjoy Life.
• Soleus Muscle - The soleus muscle is a smaller muscle in your calf.
• Supinate - Supination, the opposite of pronation, is the tendency to roll one's ankles outward when standing, walking or running. Over-Supination causes stress to distribute unevenly through the plantar fascia.
• Theraband™ - A Theraband™ is an elastic piece of rubber designed to help exercise muscles.
• Ultrasound therapy - Ultrasound therapy is the delivery of high frequency sound waves to an affected area.  A gel is used between the ultrasound machine and the skin to keep the sound waves from reflecting off the skin.