Plantar fasciitis (PF) is one of the most frequent causes of heel pain. This study was designed to determine the long-term prognosis of PF, and to evaluate whether baseline characteristics might help predict the outcome.

Subjects were 174 patients with PF presenting for clinical evaluation. The patients were given instructions for rehabilitation and were then provided a variety of treatments as recommended by their physicians. At follow-up, the patients were interviewed and underwent a clinical evaluation and ultrasound examination of the plantar fascia of both feet. Symptoms were rated on a 10-point, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)．

Of the 269 patients diagnosed with PF, 174 were eligible and agreed to participate. The mean follow-up was 9.7 years from the onset of symptoms. At follow-up, the subjects reported having tried an average of 3.8 different treatments. At that time, 54% were asymptomatic and 46% symptomatic. Of those who were asymptomatic at follow-up, 31.9% had experience at least one relapse before reporting permanent relief. Ultrasound evaluation revealed no significant difference in plantar fascial thickness between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. Of those with resolution, the mean time with symptoms prior to resolution was 725 days.

This study found that, of patients presenting for treatment of plantar fasciitis, 45.6% still had symptoms at ten years.