plantar fasciitis

If your first steps out of bed in the morning are a rude reminder that you have heel pain, you may have plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain that is typically worse after periods of inactivity. The condition is common among runners, dancers, and people whose work requires standing or walking on hard surfaces for long periods of time. Rather than relying on orthotics and pain medications for temporary relief, Gotham Integrative Acupuncture + Wellness focuses on restoring health and function, and equipping you with the tools to prevent future flare-ups. Our goal is to help our NYC patients heal from plantar fasciitis while also correcting the underlying causes of this condition with personalized acupuncture treatments and self-care tools.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis? 

Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the thick band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot is affected. The hallmark sign of plantar fascia is heel pain worse when getting out of bed in the morning or after periods of inactivity. This is because the plantar fascia shortens during inactivity, and the increased tension on this band of tissue further stresses any injured areas of the plantar fascia resulting in pain. As you become active, the plantar fascia warms up with increased circulation, becoming more pliable and decreasing stress on the injured tissue, which can give temporary pain relief.

Plantar Fasciitis vs. Plantar Fasciosis

The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the base of the toes. The plantar fascia plays an important role in supporting the dynamic movements of the foot, and supporting the arches of the foot. “Plantar fasciitis” means inflammation of the plantar fascia. However, a study examining the plantar fascia of patients suffering from chronic heel pain showed that rather than inflammation, this condition is caused by micro tears and necrotic (dead) tissue in the plantar fascia. ^1,2 A newer term that describes this condition more accurately is “plantar fasciosis” which indicates disease of the plantar fascia.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis and Fasciosis

One of the conventional ideas about plantar fasciitis is that those with high arches or low arches can be predisposed to developing plantar fasciitis. However, if strength and flexibility are balanced and proper biomechanics are used, there is no reason that the large majority of people should develop plantar fasciitis due to a high or low arch. Bone spurs are also often mentioned in relation to plantar fasciitis; they are not typically a direct cause of pain, but rather the body’s response to tension on the plantar fascia. Healing and pain relief with acupuncture are possible regardless of whether a bone spur is present or not.

Some of the causes of plantar fasciitis that we see a lot include:

Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin, flexible, sterile needles into strategically selected points to promote healing and restore function. In addition to healing tissues locally in the area of pain, acupuncture also triggers the body to release powerful natural painkillers and anti-inflammatory agents. Unlike orthotics and painkillers, which are used like a band-aid, this treatment addresses the underlying causes of plantar fasciitis. Our treatments will reduce or eliminate pain so you can get back to living your life without constant heel pain. We also aim to provide you with the understanding and self-care habits necessary to prevent future flare-ups. 

Our multifaceted approach to treating plantar fasciitis includes:

Professional Acupuncture for Plantar Fasciitis

If you have plantar fasciitis, or are experiencing heel pain and would like to find out how acupuncture can help you, get started with a complimentary consultation at Gotham Integrative Acupuncture + Wellness. We’ve helped many of our patients to reduce or eliminate heel pain and get back to walking, running, and living their life without being held back by constant foot pain. Book your appointment online now to meet with our skilled and experienced acupuncturist to find out more about how you can benefit from our effective treatments for plantar fasciitis.

Studies on acupuncture for plantar fasciitis:

1. Ingram G, McClanahan R. Treatment of plantar fasciosis - correct toes [Internet]. Naturopathic Doctor News and Review; [cited 2022Jan21]. Available from: https://www.correcttoes.com/foot-help/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Treatment-of-Plantar-Fasciosis_Dr-McClanahan-and-Ingram.pdf 
2. Lemont H, Ammirati KM, Usen N. Plantar fasciitis: a degenerative process (fasciosis) without inflammation. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2003 May-Jun;93(3):234-7. doi: 10.7547/87507315-93-3-234. PMID: 12756315.
3. Zhang SP, Yip TP, Li QS. Acupuncture treatment for plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial with six months follow-up. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:154108. doi: 10.1093/ecam/nep186. Epub 2011 Feb 15. PMID: 19933769; PMCID: PMC3094706.
4. ​​Dunning J, Butts R, Henry N, Mourad F, Brannon A, Rodriguez H, Young I, Arias-Buría JL, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C. Electrical dry needling as an adjunct to exercise, manual therapy and ultrasound for plantar fasciitis: A multi-center randomized clinical trial. PLoS One. 2018 Oct 31;13(10):e0205405. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205405. PMID: 30379937; PMCID: PMC6209187.
5. Karagounis P, Tsironi M, Prionas G, Tsiganos G, Baltopoulos P. Treatment of plantar fasciitis in recreational athletes: two different therapeutic protocols. Foot Ankle Spec. 2011 Aug;4(4):226-34. doi: 10.1177/1938640011407320. PMID: 21868796.