Acupuncture Relieves Heel Pain & Plantar Fasciitis
A 2014 research study concluded that acupuncture was an effective and safe treatment for heel pain. Heel pain is one of the most common foot conditions, consisting of intense pain, particularly when placing weight onto the foot. Pain on the back of the heel often points to Achilles tendinitis while pain on the underside of the heel often indicates plantar fasciitis. This foot pain acupuncture research demonstrates the benefits of acupuncture.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It presents as pain and inflammation across the bottom of the foot. This foot pain acupuncture research found that acupuncture was most effective for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis and many other forms of heel pain.
Western Medicine & Heel Pain
Biomedical treatments for heel pain include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections, small needle knife therapy, block therapy, shockwave therapy and surgery. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has historical records dating back hundreds of years documenting success in the treatment of heel pain using acupuncture. This foot pain acupuncture research confirms the historical data.
Foot Pain Acupuncture Research – The Details
The study was conducted by researchers from Guangzhou Dongsheng Hospital and Guangzhou Social Welfare House. They reviewed 19 separate clinical trials and discovered that 16 of the 19 studies used special acupuncture points called Ashi points to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
One investigation, performed by Xu Xuemeng et al., involved 66 patients who were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a control group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture treatment and the control group received triamcinolone acetonide acetate injections (a synthetic corticosteroid) and local blocking therapy. The results were assessed six months following the treatment. The acupuncture group achieved an effective rate of 97% while the drug therapy group had a 76% effective rate.
Studies also indicated that acupuncture combined with moxibustion (Chinese herbal heat treatment) had a positive effect on patient outcomes. In one investigation performed by He Yucai et al., 75 patients with heel pain were treated with acupuncture points Yongquan (KI1), Rangu (KI2), Taixi (KI3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Chengshan (BL57) and ashi acupoints on the affected side.
After needling, moxibustion was applied to ashi points on the heel. The moxibustion was used for 10 minutes. Acupuncture and moxibustion were administered once a day for six days, comprising one course. The second course started two days after the completion of the first. After two courses of treatment, the acupuncture group significantly outperformed the control group that was treated with ibuprofen sustained release capsules.
Conclusions
The researchers evaluated 19 studies from the previous 5 years. They concluded that acupuncture was safer, easier to apply, and more effective than conventional treatments for heel pain.
TCM Theory
The researchers in this foot pain acupuncture research described Chinese medicine theory for the treatment of heel pain. In Chinese medicine, heel pain is often seen as an illness of Numbness Syndrome. Heel pain often occurs in middle-aged or elderly people and is described as “kidney governing bone.”
A major principle of acupuncture is to tonify (strengthen) kidney Qi, warm the Du Channel and invigorate collaterals to unblock numbness and stop pain. Therefore, acupuncture for foot pain is most commonly applied to points located on the kidney and bladder channels, plus Ashi points.
Next Steps
If you have heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis or any other type of foot or ankle pain, come in for acupuncture. Treatments are highly effective and provide long term relief. Most importantly, there are no negative side effects. As this foot pain acupuncture research demonstrated, it is truly the best treatment for heel and foot pain.
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References
Tang, Cuanqi, et al. “Progress of Clinical Research on Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Heel Pain.” World Chinese Medicine 9.1 (2014): 120-123.
If you found this foot pain acupuncture research study intriguing, give us a call. We love treating all types of foot pain. Results are impressive!
What our Clients are Saying
I came to Raleigh Acupuncture for severe plantar fasciitis and hamstring pain. They helped me with both of them. My pain was a 10 out of 10 beforehand, and now I’m barely a 1 out of 10. The process is amazing. I don’t know how it works but I KNOW it works!
I was referred to Raleigh Acupuncture a few months ago because I was having a problem with a bone spur affecting my Achilles. The bone spur caused tremendous pain in my ankle and heel. Physical therapy ordered by a doctor really did not help. My doctor said that if the physical therapy did not help he could do surgery, but it would be very painful and would have an 8-9 month recovery period. Raleigh Acupuncture was my last hope. After a few treatments it was less painful when I walked. As I continued the treatments the pain totally went away. Now surgery is not even necessary. They have also helped me with my migraine headaches and restless leg issues. Acupuncture has made a huge difference in the quality of my life.
For the past 13 years I suffered from peripheral neuropathy in my calf, ankle and foot. I tried numerous medications, therapy with lights, neuromuscular massages and back decompression. I felt like I had stones under the ball of my foot. After the first couple of sessions with Dr. Mark, feelings returned to my calf, ankle and the “stone like feeling” under the ball of my foot began subsiding. Thanks to Dr. Mark, I am able now to walk without pain and discomfort. The extraordinary care and attentiveness I am receiving from Raleigh Acupuncture in treating my neuropathy is remarkable and I recommend them without reserve!
My husband Arthur and I have used Mark and Jinmei bi-weekly for at least 4 years, for a variety of treatments, including general well-being. Both of us felt our ailments healed with the treatment. I had a sprained hip flexor which a sports doctor told me would take 6 weeks to heal… it was gone after 2 visits! Mark and Jinmei are very professional and learned, and we have every confidence in them. Even though we pay out of pocket, we obviously feel that the acupuncture is worth it. We both highly recommend Raleigh Acupuncture. You won’t regret it!
Last month when I was working out at the gym I injured my hip. It was diagnosed as sciatica. Two cortisone shots later the pain was still there, so I came to Raleigh Acupuncture. I was skeptical that it would work because the pain was so bad. But sure enough, they got rid of the pain. And it never came back. These guys are good. I highly recommend them.
I LOVE this place! I LOVE these people. Caring and professional, great at what they do. Living with foot pain for SO LONG now, and it was cleared up after just a couple of sessions. Very reasonable on the price, too. Did I mention I LOVE this place!!
My husband is a runner and came to Raleigh Acupuncture with a bad case of plantar fasciitis. He runs about 25 miles a week and does half marathons. In 3 treatments he was pain-free. And they told him he didn’t even have to stop running while they were treating him. It’s been six months and the pain has not returned.
They treated me for trigeminal neuralgia and planter fasciitis. Fabulous – I fly in from Arizona to see them!!!