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Plantar Fasciitis causes consistent stiffness and pain in the heel or bottom of the foot. This pain is due to inflammation in the plantar fascia which is a thick band of tissue that connects your toes to your heel bone and provides support for the arch of your foot. If this ligament is strained, it becomes swollen, weak, inflamed, and hurts whenever you stand, walk, or place pressure on your foot.

Gout is a form of arthritis and is caused by buildup of uric acid in the blood. This acid forms because of the breakdown of waste substances called purines in the body. These purines are often dissolved in the blood, processed by the kidneys and eventually they are passed through the body in urine.

Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints and the surrounding area: “Osteoarthritis usually occurs in the hands and weight-bearing joints such as hips, knees, feet and spine” (1). This disease causes the cartilage to break down in between the affected joints and leads to painful swelling and inflammation in the joint. Cartilage in our bones is very important to the mechanics that take place while our joints are moving.

The Iliotibial band, also known as the IT band, is a long group of fibers that run from the top of the hips to the outside of the thigh. The IT band is basically a connection between major hip muscles and the knee that keeps everything stabilized during running, cycling and other physical activities. At the part of the knee where the tendon passes, there is a small sac (bursa sac) between the bone and the tendon.