A painful plantar tendon may be the result of an inflammatory reaction of the plantar fascia, which is mostly the tendon of the plantar foot or the fascia surrounding the tendon, which undergoes an inflammatory reaction. The inflammatory response may be sterile and most commonly associated with radiating pain in the area, which may worsen after walking and more strenuous exercise. In severe cases, patients may feel pain in the plantar aspect of the foot even when they are standing or resting, so that the fasciitis is actually the result of a chronic athletic injury, or it may be due to over-training that leads to pain in the calcaneus. Heel pain may later radiate to the front of the foot, which is felt as a painful symptom of a tendon on the bottom of the foot.