Treat Plantar Fasciitis with Acupuncture

In this article we’ll discuss plantar fasciitis, which can be treated with acupuncture. For those who suffer from pain caused by plantar fasciitis, regular acupuncture sessions can be a helpful approach for dealing with symptoms. Acupuncture is performed by inserting thin needles into strategic points on the body – acupuncture for plantar fasciitis specifically is performed similarly.

Let’s discuss more about how Acupuncture can help with Plantar Fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is a common complaint made to podiatrists all over the world by their patients. Plantar fasciitis is caused by repetitive stress and micro traumas that occur with the foot’s connective tissue. It can be caused by over-exercising, being overweight, and wearing shoes that don’t fit. Age helps with the development of this condition as well – as a person gets older, the likelihood of developing plantar fasciitis increases. A person with plantar fasciitis may experience heel pain in various degrees, causing them anywhere from mild discomfort to debilitating pain. Each year podiatrists and acupuncture practitioners alike see millions of people who are affected by this condition.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis, also known as PF, is a common source of heel pain. In fact, approximately 10% of people will get plantar fasciitis in their life. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis begin as a discomfort in the heel, but the condition quickly progresses to a sharp, stabbing pain at the sole of the foot and/or heel. The pain is most intense while the person is standing, just after periods of rest.

Plantar fasciitis gets its name from the ‘plantar fascia,” which is the tendon that gets inflamed when this occurs. The plantar fascia attaches to the base of the heel bone, extending up to the five bands that attach to the five toes. Because this tendon bears weight, it gets affected by overuse and repetition. Plantar fasciitis can cause fracturing to the heel; this is called calcaneus or a heel bone fracture. When the condition causes bony growth, this is called a bone spur. Arthritic conditions can actually cause plantar fasciitis. Some of these conditions include ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.

Plantar fasciitis does not always require therapy or acupuncture – most cases improve with home remedies like stretching, massage, and rest. If those remedies don’t work, acupuncture may be the best way to treat it.

What is Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis Like?

When it comes to run-of-the-mill treatment for plantar fasciitis, the focus is on daily physical therapy and pain management. That’s what makes acupuncture a great alternative. The first part of treating plantar fasciitis with acupuncture is to release the body’s natural pain relief mechanisms. You’ll find relief as soon as this happens, but you need to continue treatment in order to continue to feel pain relief. The second part of treating plantar fasciitis is about reducing inflammation. This part of the treatment is most important because it stops future plantar fasciitis symptoms from brewing. Scientific studies, like this one, show acupuncture provides great relief for patients with plantar fasciitis by reducing pain frequency and intensity.

Plantar fasciitis should be treated with care because it is a serious condition. What often begins as mild heel discomfort soon turns into excruciating pain. Once plantar fasciitis pain becomes intense, it greatly impacts the person’s life and can even cause more serious conditions like heel and bone spurs.The best course of action is to stop the pain before it becomes unbearable.

Who is Likely to Get Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis is most common in certain populations, including:

Runners
Walkers
People who are overweight
People who stand for long periods of time
People who have one leg shorter than the other
Those with foot alignment issues

Acupuncture for Plantar Fasciitis

One of the best treatments (if not THE best treatment) for plantar fasciitis is acupuncture. Acupuncture uses thin needles to stimulate nerves and increase blood flow. The result is less pain and tension overall. Acupuncture not only works for plantar fasciitis pain of the foot and heel, it works for other types of pain as well, including back pain. Studies have found that acupuncture is great for those with plantar fasciitis. To understand why acupuncture works for foot pain, you’ll first need to understand what trigger points are and how they cause your pain.

Trigger Points

For thousands of years in Chinese medicine these have been called Ashi points or “oh yes” points – they’re places that cause pain upon palpation of the tissue. Trigger points are tight and tender bands in the belly of a muscle. They can appear in any muscle and cause pain directly in the muscle while also referring to other areas. Trigger points are areas where the muscle has shortened and tightened – also called contraction. The circulation in these areas is impared, causing a lack of oxygen and nutrients. It also impairs the ability to clear waste products, resulting in pain and muscle dysfunction.

Muscles do not function in isolation, so when one muscle’s function is dysfunctional it can cause a series of reactions in the chain of muscles that work together to allow or produce certain movement. So when treating your injury we are looking for a pathway of pain. Connected places in the body affected by the injury or illness. We look for the areas of tightness causing muscle dysfunction as well as areas where there is pain. Only when both are treated can you achieve the rapid result I do with my patients, here at Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center. This type of treatment is what dry needling was originally based off of. In fact, the two have tons of similarities. If you’re interested in learning more about dry needling, here is a link to a video I did on it.

How can Acupuncture Help with Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis causes a lot of pain and discomfort in the foot and heel. The good thing is, acupuncture can help. Acupuncture doesn’t rely on painkillers to get the job done. Instead, acupuncture helps stimulate blood flow, which can help restore nerve function and improve pain overall.

Where can I treat Plantar Fasciitis with Acupuncture in Raleigh, North Carolina?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the conditions that can be treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture can also help with other sources of pain, swelling, migraines, bursitis, muscle cramps, hip pain, carpal tunnel, and more. If you’re searching for a qualified Acupuncturist to help with your plantar fasciitis pain in Raleigh, North Carolina, you’ll want to find someone with experience, qualifications, and compassion. Look no further than Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center. Our goal since 2010 has been to provide quality and compassionate acupuncture in Raleigh, NC and the surrounding areas.

Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center for all of your Acupuncture needs

Hi, I’m Jim Eleczko, the founder of Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center and it’s my mission to provide you with compassionate, whole-person care using holistic treatments, including Acupuncture and topical herbal medicine. I’m a board-certified and licensed Acupuncturist practicing since 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. I love that I get to wake up every day to make meaningful changes in my patient’s lives. I’ve seen first hand the changes that Acupuncture can make. As a teen I suffered from allergies and my father suggested that I try Acupuncture to calm the symptoms. It worked – and left a lasting impression on me! Now I offer Acupuncture and other treatments to help people with a variety of issues, including anxiety, migraines, fibromyalgia, and more. Our other treatments include Dry Needling, Tuina Massage, Guasha, Cupping, Stretching, Orthopedic Movements, Electroacupuncture and Therapeutic Exercises.

Here’s a bit more about me and my qualifications: I studied the 4-year program at Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine and continue to travel multiple times a year to study with my mentor, Andrew Nugent-Head. I also studied under Dr. Ed Garbacz, M.D. LAc and spent a year working and studying under Dr. Bonnie Walker, M.D. LAc. I have also done extensive post-graduate studies in acupuncture, nutrition, herbal medicine from lectures of acupuncturists like Dr. Nguyen Van Nghi, Dr. Tran Viet Dzung, Matt Callison, and Edward Obaidey.

Get in touch with me by calling (919) 260-4104. I’d be happy to answer your questions and get you booked for an appointment today!