{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/plantar-fasciitis-how-acupuncture-can-really-help\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/plantar-fasciitis-how-acupuncture-can-really-help\/","headline":"Plantar Fasciitis: How Acupuncture Can Really Help","name":"Plantar Fasciitis: How Acupuncture Can Really Help","description":"[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/woman-suffering-foot-pain.jpg” alt=”woman suffering foot pain” title_text=”basketball-player-with-sports-injury” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”||||on||||” ul_font=”||||||||” ul_font_size=”18px” ul_line_height=”1.6em” header_font=”Exo|900||on|||||” header_text_color=”#822631″ header_font_size=”45px” custom_padding=”5px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_phone=”35px” custom_css_free_form=”selector h3 {font-size: 16px !important;}||selector ol li:not(:first-child) {margin-top: 25px;}||selector ol li ul {margin-top: 15px; margin-left: […]","datePublished":"2025-06-02","dateModified":"2025-06-02","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/author\/john\/#Person","name":"John Rybak","url":"https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/author\/john\/","identifier":22,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dc8600a65b14dffa82d28b2e680465bc4a38b5b6eeda77a9e5e4be97bfe85a0a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dc8600a65b14dffa82d28b2e680465bc4a38b5b6eeda77a9e5e4be97bfe85a0a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The WellBridge Clinic","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/WBC_Large_Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/WBC_Large_Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/woman-suffering-foot-pain.jpg","url":"https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/woman-suffering-foot-pain.jpg","height":628,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/plantar-fasciitis-how-acupuncture-can-really-help\/","about":["Acupuncture","Community","Pain Relief"],"wordCount":960,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/wellbridgeclinic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/woman-suffering-foot-pain.jpg” alt=”woman suffering foot pain” title_text=”basketball-player-with-sports-injury” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”||||on||||” ul_font=”||||||||” ul_font_size=”18px” ul_line_height=”1.6em” header_font=”Exo|900||on|||||” header_text_color=”#822631″ header_font_size=”45px” custom_padding=”5px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_phone=”35px” custom_css_free_form=”selector h3 {font-size: 16px !important;}||selector ol li:not(:first-child) {margin-top: 25px;}||selector ol li ul {margin-top: 15px; margin-left: 25px;}||selector ol li ul li {margin-top: 0px !important;}||selector ol li ul li ul:first-child {margin-top: 0px !important;}||selector ol {margin-top: 15px;}||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]By Dr. John Rybak, DAc.If you\u2019re a runner\u2014or just a regular human trying to get out of bed in the morning\u2014and your heel feels like it\u2019s stepping on LEGOs every day, you might have plantar fasciitis. Don\u2019t worry, you\u2019re not alone. That sharp, stabbing pain in your heel is super common, especially for active folks. But here\u2019s something you might not have tried yet: acupuncture!Now before you picture a row of needles stuck in your feet like a porcupine\u2014don\u2019t worry! Dr. John Rybak doesn\u2019t stick needles into the bottom of your foot. Ever. We\u2019re in the business of healing, not torture!What is Plantar Fasciitis?It\u2019s a fancy name for when the band of tissue on the bottom of your foot (the plantar fascia) gets angry and inflamed. The pain is usually the worst first thing in the morning, or after a long run. It can make even a trip to the fridge feel like a marathon.Why Acupuncture?Acupuncture isn\u2019t just for headaches, stress and back pain. It\u2019s been shown to help with foot pain, too\u2014even the dreaded plantar fasciitis! Here’s how it helps:Calms inflammationBoosts circulationRelaxes tight muscles and fasciaTells your brain to chill out on the pain signalsAnd it does all that without meds or scary side effects.But Does It Really Work?You bet! Check out these recent studies:Wang et al. (2020) found that acupuncture significantly reduced pain and improved walking for people with plantar fasciitis.Zhang et al. (2022) reported that acupuncture outperformed stretching exercises in both short-term and long-term pain relief.A 2019 review by Li et al. showed that acupuncture was a safe and effective choice for stubborn heel pain.Liu et al. (2021) found that electroacupuncture (tiny electric pulses) sped up recovery and decreased inflammation.Chen et al. (2018) even saw improvements in foot strength and flexibility after a few acupuncture sessions.Okay, But What\u2019s It Like?Most people say acupuncture feels like a tiny tap\u2014not a poke or sting. You\u2019ll lie down, relax (maybe even nap!), and let the needles work their magic. And again, no needles in the bottom of your foot, because we\u2019re not monsters.Have you tried acupuncture yet?So if your mornings feel like torture to take your first few steps or would like to get back to running, it might be time to give acupuncture a try. It\u2019s gentle, science-backed, and surprisingly soothing\u2014even for runners with grumpy feet.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/patient.unifiedpractice.com\/the-wellbridge-clinic\/booking\/previous-visit” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Click to schedule online” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”20px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#337483″ button_border_width=”0px” button_font=”Lato|700||on|||||” custom_padding=”|36px||36px|false|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”tel:5035449611″ url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Click to call: 503-544-9611″ button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”20px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#337483″ button_border_width=”0px” button_font=”Lato|700||on|||||” custom_padding=”|36px||36px|false|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_font=”||||on||||” ul_font=”||||||||” ul_font_size=”18px” ul_line_height=”1.6em” header_font=”Exo|900||on|||||” header_text_color=”#822631″ header_font_size=”45px” custom_padding=”5px||||false|false” header_font_size_phone=”35px” custom_css_free_form=”selector h3 {font-size: 16px !important;}||selector ol li:not(:first-child) {margin-top: 25px;}||selector ol li ul {margin-top: 15px; margin-left: 25px;}||selector ol li ul li {margin-top: 0px !important;}||selector ol li ul li ul:first-child {margin-top: 0px !important;}||selector ol {margin-top: 15px;}||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]ReferencesWang, C., et al. (2020). Acupuncture for plantar fasciitis: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 15(1), 42.Zhang, L., et al. (2022). Comparison of acupuncture and stretching in patients with plantar fasciitis: A prospective study. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 20(3), 221\u2013228.Li, X., et al. (2019). Acupuncture for heel pain: A systematic review. Medicine, 98(15), e15030.Liu, Y., et al. (2021). Electroacupuncture improves plantar fasciitis by regulating inflammatory pathways. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021, 9938471.Chen, H., et al. (2018). Effects of acupuncture on function and pain in plantar fasciitis. Clinical Rehabilitation, 32(6), 780\u2013788.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\t\t\t\t"}