Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It occurs when the band of tissue that connects your heel to your toes—the plantar fascia ligament—becomes inflamed. This is a challenging condition because the plantar fascia supports the arch of your foot. That means the more you’re on your feet, the more irritated it can become.

The most obvious symptom of Plantar Fasciitis is foot pain. The pain is centered in the area directly under the heel bone, toward the inside of the foot and near the back of the arch. It is typically worse when getting out of bed in the morning and lessens with the first steps. Additionally, those on their feet for long periods of time may have worsening pain later in the day.

Risk factors for Plantar Fasciitis include the following:

• Being on feet for long periods of time 
• Pronating while walking (this simply means one rolls their feet inward when walking)
• Having high arches or flat feet
• Weight gain
• Poorly fitting or worn out shoes
• Tight calves or Achilles tendons

Plantar fasciitis can take a long time to calm down, and if left untreated can result in bone spurs. This is a result of the ligament pulling away from the heel bone. Typical treatment includes rest, ice, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and steroid injections. 

Researchers have found that acupuncture is an effective treatment for Plantar Fasciitis. Acupuncture helps improve Plantar Fasciitis through the following mechanisms:

• Acupuncture increases the circulation of your body’s own pain-relieving opioids and chemically blocks the transmission of pain signals going to your brain.
• Acupuncture increases the circulation of blood and nutrients to the inflamed or damaged tissue. 
• Acupuncture increases the body’s production of naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents at the local site where the acupuncture needle is inserted.

At Revive Acupuncture we include acupuncture with electric stimulation, myofascial release on the calf muscle, a recommended daily stretching regime, anti-inflammatory supplements, and anti-inflammatory dietary recommendations to accelerate the healing time of this condition. If you are suffering with Plantar Fasciitis and would like to try holistic medicine to address this issue, please contact our clinic. We hope to have the opportunity to help you resolve this painful condition.