What Does Plantar Fasciitis Feel Like? How to Know it's Time for a Custom Insole.
, by Chiappetta Shoes , 14 min reading time
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot pain problems in America — and it’s also one of the most misunderstood.
Table of Contents
What Does Plantar Fasciitis Feel Like? How to Know It’s Time for a Custom Insole What Is Plantar Fasciitis (In Plain English)? What Does Plantar Fasciitis Feel Like? Plantar Fasciitis vs. Other Heel Pain: How to Tell the Difference Why Plantar Fasciitis Happens (The Real Reason) The 3 Foot Mechanics That Most Often Cause Plantar Fasciitis When Is It Time for a Custom Insole? Why a Custom Insole Works Better Than a Generic Insert What Happens at a Chiappetta Shoes Assessment? The “Plantar Fasciitis Trap” Most People Fall Into The Bottom Line
What Does Plantar Fasciitis Feel Like? How to Know It’s Time for a Custom Insole
If you’ve ever gotten out of bed in the morning, taken a few steps, and felt like someone jammed a nail into the bottom of your heel… yeah. You know the feeling. And if you’re here because you Googled “what does plantar fasciitis feel like”, I’m going to save you a lot of time:
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot pain problems in America — and it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Because the pain is real, but the solution isn’t always what people think it is.
At Chiappetta Shoes, we’ve spent over a century helping people solve foot pain from the ground up — and plantar fasciitis is one of the #1 reasons people walk through our doors.
Let’s break down what plantar fasciitis really feels like, why it happens, and how to know when it’s time to stop guessing and get a custom insole.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis (In Plain English)?
Plantar fasciitis is irritation (and sometimes micro-tearing) of the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot — from your heel to your toes. Think of it like a strong strap that supports your arch. When your foot mechanics are off, that strap gets overloaded. And once it gets overloaded for long enough… it fights back.
What Does Plantar Fasciitis Feel Like?
Plantar fasciitis doesn’t feel the same for everybody — but there are some classic “dead giveaways.”
1) Sharp heel pain first thing in the morning
This is the #1 symptom. People describe it as:
“A stabbing pain in my heel”
“Like I stepped on a Lego”
“Like a knife in the bottom of my foot”
“Like my heel is bruised”
2) Pain after sitting (not always during activity)
This one throws people off. A lot of plantar fasciitis sufferers feel:
“Okay while walking”
“But terrible after resting”
“Then it loosens up again”
3) Heel pain that spreads into the arch
Sometimes it starts at the heel and then:
radiates forward
pulls through the arch
becomes a dull ache by the end of the day
4) A deep ache after long standing
If you work on your feet (factory, healthcare, retail, trades, teaching), plantar fasciitis can show up as:
heel fatigue
throbbing pain
soreness that builds through the day
Plantar Fasciitis vs. Other Heel Pain: How to Tell the Difference
Heel pain isn’t always plantar fasciitis. Here are a few common “look-alikes”:
Heel Spur
A heel spur often shows up with plantar fasciitis — but it isn’t always the cause of pain. A lot of people have heel spurs and never feel them.
Achilles Tendon Issues
If the pain is more in the back of the heel, especially when walking uphill or climbing stairs, it may be Achilles-related.
Fat Pad Atrophy
This is common in older adults and feels like:
walking on bone
tenderness directly under the heel
pain on hard surfaces
Nerve Issues
If you have tingling, burning, or numbness, that’s often not plantar fasciitis — it could be nerve irritation.
Important note: We are not doctors, and heel pain can have multiple causes. But what we are experts in is identifying biomechanics problems and matching them with real solutions.
Why Plantar Fasciitis Happens (The Real Reason)
Here’s the part most people miss: Plantar fasciitis is rarely random. It’s usually a biomechanics problem, and the plantar fascia is just the victim. At Chiappetta Shoes, we look at foot pain the way we’re supposed to: From the ground up. That’s why we use our Quadrastep Foot Typing System — because foot type is the first clue to why you’re in pain.
The system is based on:
Arch height
Forefoot alignment
Rearfoot alignment when walking
The 3 Foot Mechanics That Most Often Cause Plantar Fasciitis
In our experience, there are three main reasons why people develop plantar fasciitis. The first is overpronation, when your arch drops and the plantar stretches too far or too often. This is one of the biggest drivers. Next, we commonly see that high arches have issues due to their rigid foot type. Having a high arch doesn’t always mean “good support.” A high, rigid arch can mean your foot doesn’t absorb shock well and can take quite the beating. Lastly, is how your foot pushes off, or forefoot alignment issues. Your forefoot alignment (valgus, neutral, varus) influences how your foot loads and pushes off the ground. When the forefoot is tilted, the body overcompensates, and the plantar fascia pays the price.
When Is It Time for a Custom Insole?
This is the money question, because not everybody needs custom insoles on day one. Here are the clearest signs you’re past the “try a cheap insert and pray” stage:
Your heel pain has lasted more than 2–3 weeks
If it’s not improving, it’s not going away by itself.
You’ve tried OTC inserts and they didn’t work
Over-the-counter insoles are great… when they match your foot type. Although if your foot type needs a specific correction and you’re wearing a generic insole, you’re basically putting a Band-Aid on a mechanics issue.
You have recurring plantar fasciitis
If it comes back every few months, you don’t have a “flare-up problem.” You have a foot mechanics problem.
You work on your feet
Tradesmen, nurses, teachers, warehouse workers. The people who put in the work and don’t get to “rest it.” You need something that works while you live your life.
Your pain is changing your gait
This is a huge red flag. If you’re limping, rolling to the outside of your foot, or shifting weight to avoid pain, you’re creating a chain reaction of pain in your ankle, knee, hip and back.
Why a Custom Insole Works Better Than a Generic Insert
Over-the-counter insoles are built for the “average foot.”
Custom insoles are built for your foot type. At Chiappetta Shoes, we don’t just throw a custom orthotic at you.
We start with:
a foot + gait assessment
our Quadrastep Foot Typing System
your footwear
your lifestyle
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Because a custom insole isn’t magic; it’s precision.
The Bottom Line
If you’re asking: “What does plantar fasciitis feel like?”
And your answer is:
sharp heel pain
worse in the morning
worse after sitting
lingering soreness through the day
Then yes — plantar fasciitis is very likely. If you’ve been dealing with it longer than a few weeks, it’s time to stop guessing. Plantar fasciitis doesn’t usually “just happen.” It happens for a reason, but it can be solved with real solutions.
Book Your FREE Appointment
If you’re ready to stop Googling and start solving, we’re ready.
We’ll assess your foot type using the Quadrastep Foot Typing System, evaluate your gait, and recommend the best path forward — whether that’s footwear, an OTC insert, or a true custom insole.
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