Acupuncture can have a huge effect on various conditions it is almost untrue. But did you know it can also help with plantar fasciitis?
Keep reading to find out how plantar fasciitis and acupuncture work together, and why you should consider this form of treatment.
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is the medical term for a strained foot arch. It is a regular problem for anyone who is on their feet for extended periods of time, whether that is for work, because of exercise, or simply because you are getting a little older and your tendons aren’t as strong as they used to be.
It is due to repeated stretches and tears in the ligaments, which build up over time until you can no longer ignore the damage.
While standard treatments like insoles and foot massage can work for plantar fasciitis, there is a growing body of evidence that acupuncture can also have a huge effect on your foot health.
What is acupuncture?
Originating in China, acupuncture is the method of placing fine needles into the body to stimulate specific points. Initially, there was a belief that there were meridians that boosted energy flow in the body, and the needles could unblock these. Modern science instead suggests that nerve clusters at these points, stimulated by the needles that produce more pain-blocking endorphins and can stimulate repair in the area. Some doctors now use acupuncture in their treatment as well.
Acupuncture for plantar fasciitis
While it might sound ridiculous, sticking needles into your feet can help relieve your long-term pain.
In studies performed on people with plantar fasciitis, patients who were given a treatment of acupuncture over weeks showed significant improvement based on standard medication and massage treatments.
In fact, it was so effective that acupuncture could be more effective for treating plantar fasciitis than conventional therapies.
The benefits of acupuncture for plantar fasciitis
Acupuncture is considered a fantastic treatment for muscle spasms and muscle pain, as well as long-term chronic joint and muscular issues, which is why it should consider being a treatment for plantar fasciitis.
In study after study, acupuncture shows its efficacy when compared to conventional therapies, as well as placebo groupings.
How often should you get foot acupuncture and is it expensive?
According to practitioners, if treated for repetitive strain issues, such as plantar fasciitis, the best course of treatment is twice a week for at least three weeks.
Accordingly, most patients will start to see results and will notice significant changes once this period has passed. At this time, it will be up to the practitioner and patient to work out the best thing for them. It may be that you will need another week or two of further treatment, or just a single holding treatment every two or three weeks.
It is also completely possible that your problem will have cleared up enough that you will no longer need treatments. As for cost, it differs across the USA. You can expect a starting consultation to cost somewhere in the region of $100 to $200, with regular treatments costing around half that.
Plantar Fasciitis and Acupuncture: Try It
Overall, the evidence is mounting that Acupuncture is an effective treatment for various muscular issues that include plantar fasciitis. If you are currently suffering from this painful and debilitating condition, it is worth checking your area to see if there are any practitioners and book yourself in for a check-up.
It goes with saying that another option is to consider the shoes you are wearing. You may want to consider shoes for plantar fasciitis, or if you are a runner, running shoes for plantar fasciitis.
If you find a link between plantar fasciitis and acupuncture, then please make sure to come back and tell us how your treatment went. We love hearing our reader’s stories, and anything you learn could help another person in the same situation to deal with their pain.
