Acupuncture Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Six Months Follow-Up

Plantar fasciitis is one of the leading causes of heel pain, affecting approximately 10% of the general population. The condition is characterized by pain and tenderness in the medial region of the calcaneus, especially when bearing weight and particularly in the morning shortly after waking. Conventional treatments include anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroid injections; however, these can be associated with significant side effects, making it necessary to explore safe and effective alternative therapies.

Acupuncture has traditionally been used for various musculoskeletal pain conditions, including heel pain. According to traditional Chinese medicine, certain specific acupuncture points are thought to have targeted effects for particular conditions. In the case of heel pain, the Daling point (PC-7), located on the wrist, is considered specific for this type of pain. This study aimed to investigate whether this point truly has a specific action superior to other points with general analgesic properties.

The researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial with 53 adult participants who had suffered from plantar fasciitis for at least three months. Patients were divided into two groups: the treatment group received acupuncture at the PC-7 point (located on the wrist), while the control group received acupuncture at the Hegu point (LI-4), also located on the hand and known for its general analgesic properties. Treatment consisted of ten daily acupuncture sessions over two weeks, with each session lasting 30 minutes. Both the participants and the researcher responsible for the assessments were blinded as to which treatment was being applied, ensuring impartiality of results.

To evaluate the efficacy of the treatments, the researchers used pain scales measuring symptom intensity in the morning, during activity, and overall. Algometry, a technique that measures pressure pain threshold using a specific device, was also used. Assessments were performed before, during, and after treatment, with a six-month follow-up.

The results demonstrated statistically significant differences between the groups, favoring treatment with PC-7. One month after the end of treatment, the group receiving acupuncture at PC-7 showed greater reduction in morning pain, overall pain, and improvement in pressure pain threshold compared with the control group. In the PC-7 group, the improvement in morning pain was approximately 23 points on a 100-point scale, while in the control group it was only 12 points. Similar results were observed for overall pain and during activities.

Interestingly, the researchers also observed that treatment was more effective in patients with a shorter symptom duration.

From a clinical standpoint, these findings suggest that acupuncture may be a valid therapeutic alternative for patients with plantar fasciitis, offering pain relief with safety. The study recorded no serious adverse events in either group, only mild reactions such as small hematomas or local edema at the needling site. For patients, this means there is a non-pharmacological treatment option that can provide significant symptom relief, especially when started early in the course of the disease. For healthcare professionals, the results offer scientific evidence that specific acupuncture points may have targeted actions and not merely a general analgesic effect.

The study has several important limitations that should be considered. First, it did not include a control group receiving no acupuncture at all, which would have allowed assessment of whether the observed effect was due specifically to treatment or to factors such as spontaneous improvement of the condition. Second, although the differences between groups were statistically significant, they did not reach the 33% improvement threshold established at the outset as clinically relevant. Third, the sample size was relatively small, and many of the significant differences were concentrated in the one-month post-treatment period, diminishing in subsequent months.

Despite these limitations, the results are encouraging and suggest that the PC-7 point has specific characteristics for the treatment of heel pain, differing from a point with general analgesic properties. The researchers propose that the mechanism of action may be related to specific anti-inflammatory effects rather than general analgesia alone. For patients suffering from plantar fasciitis, especially those seeking alternatives to conventional medications, acupuncture at the PC-7 point represents a promising option that deserves consideration, always under the guidance of qualified professionals.