Athletes are professionals most susceptible to stress related physical injuries, and sports media is full of stories about injuries and recovery times for those whose team mates and fans wait with bated breath for them to return to their game of choice. Dr. Burton S. Schuler Podiatrist, Foot Doctor of Panama City, Panama City Beach Florida says Plantar Fasciitis  which is the swelling of the plantar fascia, which is the tendon or thick tissue on the bottom of the foot that constitutes the arch of the foot isa major cause of these problems http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004438/).

While rest definitely militates against the painful swelling and inflammation that characterizes this painful heel condition, there are other treatments that may not be well known, but should be considered—especially for star athletes who can barely afford time on the bench.  Dr.  Schuler http://www.footcare4u.com/category/plantar-fasciitis/, has written extensively on the relationship between plantar fasciitis and another common foot ailment: a short first metatarsal bone. In Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts in the Foot, Schuler, who has treated patients for over forty  years, shows how "Morton's Toe"—which is named after Dr. Dudley J. Morton who researched and lectured about the condition

In the book, Schuler demonstrates that a Morton's Toe can cause overpronation of the foot—which occurs when the first toe is not equipped to absorb most of the foot's weight. Overpronation is associated with many common foot, heel, ankle and knee problems—including plantar fasciitis. For the condition, Schuler prescribes a toe pad that can be placed underneath the toe, redistributing weight evenly across the foot.As Schuler suggests, a real cure has to consider why the condition emerged in the first place.

Many high profile athletes like him, should be checked for Morton's Toe! It certainly wouldn't hurt them, and their fans would be thrilled to find out that they are no longer at risk of developing the injuries that experts such as Dr. Schuler links to having a short first metatarsal bone.