Knowledge and Practices Regarding Plantar Fasciitis among the General Population in Arar, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Plantar Fasciitis (PF) is a common cause of heel pain, accounting for a notable proportion of foot-related disorders worldwide. Despite its frequency, public knowledge and preventive practices remain underexplored in many Saudi regions, including Arar. Objective: To evaluate knowledge and self-reported practices regarding PF among adults in Arar, Saudi Arabia, using an online convenience sample and to explore associations with demographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 260 adult respondents from Arar. Because recruitment occurred through social media, the sample reflects digitally active participants rather than the general community. The questionnaire included demographic variables, five knowledge items (0-20 points) and five practice items (0-15 points), categorized into excellent, good or insufficient based on percentage scoring thresholds. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and ANOVA were used for exploratory analysis. Results: Knowledge levels were predominantly insufficient (68.5%), with a mean score of 7.58±5.07. Practice performance was modest (mean 9.00±2.93), with 39.6% classified as insufficient. Supportive footwear (35.4%) and preventive stretching exercises (29.6%) were reported at low rates. Educational level showed a significant association with total scores (p = 0.002), whereas gender and employment status showed no significant relationship. Conclusion: Respondents demonstrated limited knowledge and suboptimal preventive practices concerning PF. Given the online convenience sampling and overrepresentation of younger, educated participants, findings should not be generalized to the wider population. Targeted awareness strategies, particularly for individuals with lower education or limited health literacy, may be beneficial.