What causes plantar fasciitis? A look into the windlass mechanism

Plantar fasciitis is a common problem in which the plantar fascia and surrounding tissues become inflamed.  This is often due to prolonged stress on the tissues or a biomechanical fault that creates an imbalance in weight distribution.  What was previously known as an over-use injury in athletics has occurred more and more in the more sedentary population. Why is that?  To start, let’s take a look at the anatomy of the bottom of your foot.

The plantar fascia originates from the toe side of the heel at what is called the aponeurosis and extends to the toes. It covers the bottom of the arch of your foot where many people complain of soreness and pain.  However, if you don’t have pain when applying pressure to the site of origination (just in front of the heel), it is not likely to be plantar fasciitis and can often be lumped in to any type of arch pain. 

Have you been told you have high arches or that you over-pronate?  This seems to be an oversimplified reason for plantar fascia pain.  If the arch is falling or you’re over-pronating, the joints are hypermobile creating the pain. If your arch is too high, than the joints aren’t moving as much creating the pain.  But why did it start to create pain and where did the issue start?  The problem is likely faulty mechanics in the windlass mechanism.

A windlass mechanism is one that places tension on a rope or cord like on a sailboat.  The “windlass” mechanism involving the plantar fascia is when a person is walking, their ankle flexes up towards their knee placing a tension on the plantar fascia.  This tightening of the plantar fascia, raises the arch of the foot which creates a better distribution of weight.  If the ankle isn’t moving as it should, this tensioning does not occur properly and leads to biomechanical faults.  The key to treating your foot pain, is finding the cause.  What is the biomechanical fault that is changing the way you’re walking, leading to the pain?  It can come from the toes, foot, ankle and more so getting to the bottom of the problem is necessary to create lasting change.