Objective To observe the clinical effect of Xiaotan Zhitong gel on heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis. Methods A total of 72 patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis heel pain were randomly divided into observation group (36 cases) and control group (36 cases). Patients in the control group were treated with local application of diclofenac diethylamine emulgel twice a day and those in the treatment group were treated with Xiaotan Zhitong gel twice a day, with both treatments lasting for 28 d. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score of heel pain, the quantitative scale score of heel pain symptom grading, and the American Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score were evaluated before and after treatment. The changes of plantar fascia thickness were examined ultrasonographically before and after treatment in the 2 groups. The effective rates of treatment and the 3-month relapse rates were observed in the 2 groups. Results Before treatment, there were no significant differences in heel pain VAS score, heel pain symptom grading quantitative scale score, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, or plantar fascia thickness between the 2 groups (all P＞0.05). After treatment, the above indexes were improved in both groups compared with those before treatment (all P＜0.05); and the pain VAS score, heel pain symptom grading quantitative scale total score, heel pain symptom grading quantitative scale pain score, heel pain symptom grading quantitative scale pressure score, heel pain symptom grading quantitative scale dysfunction score, and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score in the observation group were significantly improved compared with those in the control group (all P＜0.05). The thickness of plantar fascia was significantly thinner than that of the control group (P＜0.05), and the insomnia scores on the heel pain symptom grading quantitative scale were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P＞0.05). The effective rate of the observation group (80.6%, 29/36) was significantly higher than that of the control group (55.6%, 20/36) (P＜0.05), and the 3-month recurrence rate in the observation group (16.7%, 6/36) was significantly lower than that of the control group (41.7%, 15/36) (P＜0.05). Conclusion Xiaotan Zhitong gel can reduce heel pain, improve foot function, and reduce plantar fascia thickness in patients with plantar fasciitis, also with low recurrence rate after treatment.