Plantar fasciitis, also known as heel spur, runners’ heel, or heel pain syndrome, is one of the most common disorders of the foot and results in approximately 1 million visits annually to various health care providers. Many factors can contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis, and several common risk factors have been identified. These can be categorized into intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Plantar fasciitis is best treated conservatively. Inflammation had been considered to be the primary cause of the pain from plantar fasciitis, but clinical and histological evidence of this theory is lacking. Plantar fasciitis is a clinical diagnosis that will be made after a complete history and physical examination. Effective management requires the use of multiple treatment modalities, patient education, and patience. Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) has been used successfully in the treatment of renal and biliary calculi since 1976 and in treatment of plantar fasciitis.