How Plantar Fasciitis Foot Pain Affects US Adults: A Data Study
Plantar fasciitis—or inflammation of the band of tissue under our feet—is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the heel of the foot. The most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include pain, stiffness, and tenderness in the heel or arch of the foot. Other possible symptoms include swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected area.
The exact cause of plantar fasciitis is unknown, but it is believed to be caused by repeated strain or overuse of the tendon that connects your heel bone to your toes. Factors that may increase your risk of developing this condition include:
- Age
- Over exercising or under exercising
- Having flat feet or high arches
- A person’s weight
- Wearing shoes with poor support or shock absorption
If you are experiencing any symptoms of plantar fasciitis, it is important to seek treatment to prevent complications and reduce your risk of long-term damage.
Plantar fasciitis treatment typically includes rest, icing the affected area, stretching exercises, wearing supportive footwear, and taking over-the-counter pain medications. Some may also benefit from physical therapy or steroid injections to help relieve inflammation and promote healing.
Plantar Fasciitis in the United States
About two million people are treated for plantar fasciitis each year in the US. This condition is more prevalent among certain age groups, particularly those in their 40s and 50s.
Plantar fasciitis pain has several possible causes, including occupational factors such as standing or walking for extended periods on hard surfaces, genetic predisposition, having flat feet or high arches, or underlying health conditions like excess weight or diabetes.
Regardless of the underlying cause, however, effective treatments are available for managing this condition and reducing its impact on people's lives.
A Study of 812 People With Plantar Fasciitis
- 85% of adults that report having plantar fasciitis have been formally diagnosed.
- Here are a few of the most common ways adults have received a plantar fasciitis diagnosis. In some cases, more than one method may have been used to reach the final diagnosis:
- 66% Clinical Diagnosis
- 40% X-Ray
- 20% Self-Diagnosis
- 17% CT Scan
- 14% Ultrasound
- 14% MRI Scan
- 1% “Other”
| Condition | % of Adults with Plantar Fasciitis Who Also Experience the Condition |
|---|---|
| Back Pain | 57% |
| Arthritis | 39% |
| Knee Pain | 38% |
| Heel Pain | 32% |
| Hip Pain | 23% |
| Diabetes | 22% |
| Flat Feet | 21% |
| Heel Spurs | 17% |
| Bunions | 16% |
| Fibromyalgia | 10% |
| Hammer Toe | 7% |
| Neuropathy | 6% |
| Morton’s Neuroma | 4% |
Pain Findings
Plantar fasciitis pain can range in severity and become worse at certain times of the day. Here our findings on how adults with plantar fasciitis reported their pain.
- The majority (60%) of adults with plantar fasciitis report that they’ve experienced foot pain as a result of this condition for six or more months.
- 1 in 7 adults (14%) with plantar fasciitis has experienced foot pain for five or more years.
- Here are the most common areas of the foot that adults with plantar fasciitis experience foot pain. They are ordered from most to least common. These adults may have experienced pain in more than one area of the foot.
- Under the Heel (55%)
- Underneath the Arch (52%)
- Upper Heel (38%)
- At the Ball of the Foot (31%)
- At the Toes (16%)
- Adults with plantar fasciitis report experiencing pain throughout the day and night. Below are the most commonly reported times to experience pain:
- In the afternoon between 12 p.m.– 5 p.m. (47%)
- The evening between 5 p.m.–9 p.m. (46%)
- In the early morning between 5 a.m.– 9 a.m. (39%)
- In the late morning between 10 a.m.–12 p.m. (36%)
- At night between 9 p.m.–4 a.m. (27%)
- On average, people with plantar fasciitis report that their pain fluctuates between “moderate” and “severe” (Averaging between 4–6 on a pain scale)
Impacts on Daily Life Findings
- A number of adults reported that their plantar fasciitis pain caused a disruption in their personal life (25%) or professional career (33%) more than once per week.
The careers most common among those with plantar fasciitis (top 10) are:
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Finance and Insurance
- Education
- Software
- Information - Services and Data
- Construction
- Hotel and Food Services
- Wholesale
- Manufacturing - Other
- Retail
Expenses Findings
- 9 in 10 adults (93%) with plantar fasciitis spend money each month to treat their pain. This includes podiatrist visits, treatments, medications, orthotics, etc.
- 40% spend less than $100 per month on plantar fasciitis related expenses.
- 25% (1 in 4) spend between $100–$250 per month on plantar fasciitis related expenses.
- 28% spend $250 or more per month on plantar fasciitis related expenses.
Treatment Findings
As an inflammatory condition, plantar fasciitis can be tricky to treat, but there are some stand-by treatments ready to help. The most common treatments for plantar fasciitis include ice, stretching exercises, compression socks, OTC medication, and activity modification.
Most common treatments for plantar fasciitis, and the percentage of adults who have tried the treatment.
| Treatment | % of Adults with Plantar Fasciitis Who Have Tried the Treatment |
|---|---|
| Ice | 88.9% |
| Stretching Exercises | 86.2% |
| Compression Sock / Foot Sleeve | 83.4% |
| Over-the-counter medication | 80.4% |
| Activity modification | 75.7% |
| Physical Therapy | 70.9% |
| Orthotic / insert brought in a shop | 70.5% |
| Bracing | 67.0% |
| Prescribed Medication(s) | 65.5% |
| Orthotic / insole provided by a specialist | 62.2% |
| Orthotic / insole custom-made to a mold | 61.7% |
| Orthotic / insole bought on the internet | 60.9% |
| Injection - steroid | 59.3% |
| Night splint | 59.2% |
| Acupuncture | 55.0% |
| Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy | 50.8% |
| Physiotherapy | 50.5% |
| Shockwave therapy | 47.1% |
| Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection | 45.5% |
| Surgery | 43.2% |
Methodology
KURU Footwear surveyed 812 Americans 18 years and older with Plantar Fasciitis. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2% and a confidence level of 95%.
The survey results were weighted to reflect characteristics of the United States population using available data from the US Census.
Sources & Plantar Fasciitis Resources:
- KURU Footwear proprietary survey, conducted 2022
- Guide to Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief. KURU Footwear (October 2023)
- Plantar fasciitis. Mayo Clinic (September 2023)
- Plantar Fasciitis. Johns Hopkins Medicine (August 2021)
About Us
At KURU, we're on a mission to help you Heel Better™ with footwear technology designed to relieve foot pain, so you can live a life you love. Since launching our innovative technology in 2008, we’ve received more than 35,000 five-star reviews from thousands of customers who tell us their KURU shoes helped them with conditions (such as plantar fasciitis) and got them back to doing what they love.
For all media inquiries, please contact us at pr@kurufootwear.com.
