Why Plantar Fasciitis May Be Linked to Age: Tips for Your Foot Health

The risk of plantar fasciitis also increases with age. Find out why and how you can prevent heel pain.

In the case of plantar fasciitis, the connective tissue tendon plate in the foot that runs under the sole of the foot from the heel to the tendons (the so-called plantar fascia) has become inflamed. This can become noticeable with sometimes severe pain in the front heel area, which initially occurs mainly under load. If the inflammation progresses, the foot pain often persists at rest and radiates forward into the foot.

Plantar fasciitis is common: Statistically, about one in ten people will develop it at some point in their lives. The disease is particularly common between the ages of 45 and 65, with women being affected more often than men.

In many cases, plantar fasciitis is the result of prolonged strain, such as standing or walking for a long time at work. Other factors are often also involved in the development. Because there are various influences that promote plantar fascia inflammation – age is one of these.

To understand why this is the case, it helps to learn more about the function of the plantar fascia: The elastic tendon plate under the foot acts like a shock absorber. It cushions the impact of every step you take, from heel strike to foot roll-off. At the same time, it supports the longitudinal arch of the foot.

With increasing age, however, the elasticity of the ligaments and tendons in the foot decreases – the plantar fascia therefore becomes stiffer and more susceptible to injuries. In addition, the fat pad underneath the heel bone becomes thinner over time and absorbs less well than before. This is why plantar fasciitis is more likely to develop in older people.

Because if there is an overload, this can more easily lead to small injuries in the tendon attachment of the plantar fascia. If the tiny cracks under the heel bone develop faster than they heal, a painful inflammation will result.

This applies in particular if there are other risk factors that increase the load on the heels, such as being overweight, shortened calf muscles (e.g. due to frequent sitting) or foot malpositions such as flat feet, pes valgus or pes cavus. Walking on hard floors or shoes that don’t provide adequate arch support can also promote plantar fasciitis.

It is true that all people experience certain age-related signs of wear and tear on their feet in the course of their lives. However, this does not make foot diseases such as painful plantar fasciitis inevitable. The risk of inflammation of the plantar tendons and the resulting heel pain can often be reduced with various tips:

• Avoid ill-fitting shoes, shoes with hard heels or heels that are too high, or prefer comfortable shoes with a good footbed that supports the arch of the foot and cushions the heels.
• Wear shoes with completely flat heels (such as flip-flops, ballerinas) only rarely and not too long, or switch between different shoes more often. Slight heels of two to three centimeters can have a positive effect.
• Maintain or try to achieve normal weight.
• Have foot deformities such as flat, arched or arched foot treated (e.g. with orthopedic insoles).
• Regular exercise can help stretch the plantar fascia, Achilles tendons, and calf muscles, and strengthen the muscles in your feet.
• Avoid walking barefoot on hard floors for long periods of time. However, walking barefoot on soft ground (like a meadow or beach) is recommended.
• When exercising, only increase your training workload slowly so that your body can get used to it.
• Give your feet a break after exertion.

Also important: If heel pain occurs, you should not ignore it, but rather have it clarified by a doctor as soon as possible. With early treatment, more serious symptoms can usually be avoided.