Can plantar fasciitis be treated with acupuncture?

Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
Updated on September 13, 2024
00:00
00:00

After the non-acute phase of plantar fasciitis, it is possible to combine local acupuncture, physiotherapy, and treatments that stimulate circulation and relieve blockages to promote the recovery of inflammation and local tissue damage. However, during the acute phase of plantar fasciitis, and if there is no significant improvement after acupuncture treatment during the non-acute phase, it may be necessary to combine oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications, along with daily local heat physiotherapy. Generally, improvement can be seen after two to four weeks. If there still is no obvious improvement, it is recommended to revisit the hospital for further examination. If significant localized tenderness is confirmed, local block therapy may be considered. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
57sec home-news-image

Plantar fasciitis etiology

The most common cause of plantar fasciitis is excessive weight-bearing walking, which leads to a type of nonspecific chronic aseptic inflammation of the plantar fascia, resulting in pain on the medial side of the foot when weight-bearing. This is the most common reason. The second cause is degeneration, which is most commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly female patients. The degeneration of the fascia can cause pain and may also be accompanied by heel spurs. Currently, there are two main treatments for plantar fasciitis. The first is conservative treatment, which includes rest, acupuncture, and local injection therapy to relieve pain. If conservative treatment does not work after more than six months or the condition gradually worsens, then surgical treatment becomes necessary. Surgical treatment can remove local inflammatory tissue and release the plantar fascia to achieve the purpose of relieving pain.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Fei
Orthopedics
40sec home-news-image

The difference between Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis and metatarsal tendinitis, these two diseases are essentially the same type of disease clinically. In professional clinical terms, it is called metatarsal tendinitis, commonly known as plantar fasciitis. The anatomical location is mainly on the sole of the foot, extending from the 1-5 metatarsophalangeal joints to the position of the calcaneal tubercle. Our soles have a very thick layer, resembling a tendon sheath, which is a very important structure that supports the arch and normal walking. Plantar fasciitis and metatarsal tendinitis essentially occur in the same location, with only a difference in terminology.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
53sec home-news-image

Plantar fasciitis clinical symptoms

The clinical manifestation of plantar fasciitis primarily involves pain on the inner side of the foot when bearing weight, particularly severe during excessive weight-bearing activities. This pain can significantly affect your posture while walking and has a substantial impact on daily life. Currently, there are two main treatments used clinically. The first is conservative treatment, which mainly involves rest, local injections, electrotherapy, magnet therapy, and acupuncture to alleviate the pain. If conservative treatment fails to yield results after more than six months and the pain progressively worsens, surgical treatment becomes the only option. Surgical treatment includes releasing the plantar fascia, removing bone spurs, and eliminating inflammatory tissue around the plantar fascia to relieve pain.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
42sec home-news-image

Can plantar fasciitis be treated with moxibustion?

Plantar fasciitis can be alleviated by moxibustion to relieve foot pain, but solely relying on moxibustion may not be very effective. In treating plantar fasciitis, it's important first to understand that the main causes of the condition are excessive loading, over-exertion, and degeneration of the fascia due to aging. The primary treatment for this condition is rest, avoiding excessive exertion. At the same time, other treatments such as shock wave therapy, acupuncture, or local injections can also be utilized. If conservative treatments have been applied for over six months without relief of pain, or if the pain gradually worsens, surgery may be needed to provide relief.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
41sec home-news-image

Plantar fasciitis pain lasts for how many days?

The duration of pain associated with plantar fasciitis varies from person to person. During the acute phase, severe pain may last for one to two weeks. If physical therapy and oral medication are promptly applied, the intensity of the pain can be significantly reduced, generally seeing improvement and relief after about 3 to 7 days. If the pain does not show significant improvement after more than three days of the above treatment, local trigger point injections can be considered, typically once a week for a total of 2 to 4 sessions, which can also yield good pain relief results. However, it is still advisable to avoid excessive weight-bearing activities afterwards to prevent recurrence.