Better shoes help you walk away from a common cause of heel pain

Recovering from a flare-up of plantar fasciitis can take time and determination. Start with your shoes.

When men seek help for heel pain from Dr. Jim Ioli, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School, the culprit is usually plantar fasciitis. This intensely painful condition affects the tough, fibrous band of connective tissue (fascia) on the bottom of the foot. The pain comes from the spot where the band attaches to the heel bone.