Acupuncture for Plantar Fasciitis: Does It Help?

Plantar fasciitis causes pain under the heel and along the arch, usually worst with the first steps in the morning. If stretches, better shoes and insoles have not settled it, you may be wondering about acupuncture. This guide is for anyone with stubborn heel pain who wants an honest view of acupuncture for plantar fasciitis, how it fits with the usual treatments, and when heel pain needs a doctor.

When to see someone: if heel pain has lasted more than a couple of weeks or is limiting walking or running, an assessment can help. Acupuncture at Omnia is £80 for a 60-minute session, assessment included. Book online or call 020 4515 0000.

Quick answer

Acupuncture may ease heel pain from plantar fasciitis for some people, but the evidence comes from a small number of trials and is not strong enough to call it a proven treatment. The NHS recommends rest, ice, cushioned shoes with arch support, insoles, stretches and painkillers first, then physiotherapy, podiatry, steroid injections or shockwave therapy if pain persists. Acupuncture can be added for pain relief while you do the stretches and loading work that matter most. A 60-minute session at Omnia in Chiswick is £80.

What is plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs from the heel bone to the toes and supports the arch. The NHS describes plantar fasciitis as pain on the bottom of the foot, around the heel and arch, that is often worst when you take your first steps after sleeping or resting, eases with movement and comes back after long periods of standing, walking or running.

It is not always clear why it happens, but the NHS lists several risk factors: being aged 40 to 60, recently starting exercise on hard surfaces, tight calves or heels, a sudden increase in standing, walking or running, shoes with poor cushioning, and being overweight. For other causes of heel pain, see ankle pain and Achilles tendinopathy.

Does acupuncture help plantar fasciitis? What the evidence shows

Some small randomised trials and systematic reviews have reported that acupuncture, including dry needling of the calf and foot muscles, reduced heel pain over several weeks compared with stretching alone or sham treatment. However, the studies are few, often small and of variable quality, so the size of any real benefit is uncertain.

In practical terms, acupuncture is a reasonable extra option if heel pain has lasted months and is stopping you from doing the stretches and strengthening that help most. It is less useful as a stand-alone treatment, and it does not fix the load problem behind most plantar fasciitis: too much standing, walking or running too soon, unsupportive shoes or tight calves.

What the NHS and NICE say

• NHS advice. Rest and raise your foot, use an ice pack wrapped in a towel for up to 20 minutes every two to three hours, wear shoes with cushioned heels and good arch support, use insoles or heel pads, do gentle stretches, take paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed, and try to lose weight if you are overweight. If self-care does not help, a physiotherapist, podiatrist, steroid injections or shockwave therapy may be offered. The NHS page does not mention acupuncture.
• NICE. There is no NICE guideline recommending acupuncture for plantar fasciitis. NICE guidance on extracorporeal shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis that has not responded to other treatment (HTG200, formerly IPG311) says there are no major safety concerns but evidence on how well it works is inconsistent.

We think it is important to be clear about this. If you choose acupuncture, it should be part of a plan that includes stretching, footwear and gradual loading.

What happens at a session

Your first appointment begins with questions about when the pain started, what makes it worse, your footwear, your work and any running or walking you do. Your practitioner checks where the pain is, how your calf and ankle move and whether anything suggests another cause, such as a stress fracture or a nerve problem.

Fine, single-use needles are then placed in the calf, around the heel and arch, and sometimes at points elsewhere in the leg. Needling tight calf muscles is common, because calf tightness adds strain to the plantar fascia. Electro-acupuncture is sometimes added. Needles usually stay in for 20 to 30 minutes. Our practitioners are registered with the British Acupuncture Council or the Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine. To compare approaches, read dry needling vs acupuncture.

How many sessions do you need?

Most people try one session a week for four to six weeks. We review progress at the third visit, using measures that matter to you, such as first-step pain in the morning, how long you can stand or walk, and whether you can return to running. If nothing has changed, it is better to focus on other treatments. Plantar fasciitis often takes months to settle fully, whatever treatment you use, so steady daily stretching matters more than the number of sessions.

Acupuncture for plantar fasciitis: cost

At Omnia in Chiswick, a 60-minute acupuncture session is £80, including your assessment. If you have private health insurance, check with your insurer whether your policy covers acupuncture. For wider prices, see how much acupuncture costs in the UK.

What you can do at home

• Stretch every day. Calf and sole stretches before your first steps in the morning can ease pain. See our plantar fasciitis stretches and exercises.
• Support your feet. Wear cushioned shoes with arch support and avoid flip-flops, backless slippers, high heels and walking barefoot on hard floors.
• Ice and rest. Ice wrapped in a towel for up to 20 minutes can calm a flare. Swap running for swimming or cycling for a while.
• Build back gradually. Increase walking or running a little at a time.
• Manage weight. Losing weight, if you are overweight, reduces load on the heel.

Who should take care with acupuncture

Acupuncture is generally safe with a registered practitioner using single-use sterile needles. The NHS advises care if you take blood-thinning medicine, have a higher risk of bleeding, or have a skin condition or infection at the treatment area. Take particular care if you have diabetes, because foot problems can be more serious and reduced sensation or poor circulation can make needling in the foot unsuitable. Tell your practitioner if you are pregnant or have had a recent steroid injection in the heel. See is acupuncture safe.

When to see a doctor

Get urgent advice from NHS 111 if:

• You have severe heel pain after an injury, or you feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
• You heard a snap, grinding or popping noise when the injury happened
• Your foot or ankle has changed shape, or you cannot walk, walk on tiptoes or climb stairs
• You have swelling and bruising in your calf and ankle

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if you have throbbing pain and swelling in one calf, which can be a sign of a blood clot. Call 999 if this comes with breathlessness or chest pain.

See your GP if the pain is severe or stops normal activities, is getting worse or keeps coming back, has not improved after two weeks of self-care, you have tingling or loss of feeling in your foot, or you have diabetes and foot pain.

Frequently asked questions

Can acupuncture help plantar fasciitis pain?

It can help some people, particularly with long-standing heel pain, but the research is limited. Acupuncture is most useful as a way to ease pain while you stretch, strengthen and change your footwear, which is where lasting improvement comes from. If there is no meaningful change after three or four sessions, focus on other options such as physiotherapy or podiatry.

Which acupuncture points are used for plantar fasciitis?

Your practitioner chooses points based on where your pain is and what drives it. Points in the calf, around the inner and outer ankle, near the heel and along the arch are commonly used, often with tender points in the calf muscles. Some practitioners add distant points in the leg or hand. No single set of points has been proven to work better than others.

Does acupuncture for plantar fasciitis hurt?

The heel and sole are more sensitive than many parts of the body, so you may feel a brief sharp prick or a deep ache when a needle goes in. This usually settles within seconds. Some people feel sore for a day afterwards. Tell your practitioner if anything feels too strong. Read does acupuncture hurt for more.

How long does plantar fasciitis take to heal?

It varies. Many people improve over weeks to months with stretches, supportive shoes, insoles and reduced load, but stubborn cases can take longer. The NHS advises seeing a GP if pain has not improved after two weeks of self-care. Steady daily stretching and a gradual return to activity matter more than any single treatment.

Is acupuncture or shockwave therapy better for plantar fasciitis?

There is no clear answer. Shockwave therapy may be offered on the NHS for heel pain that has not responded to other treatment, but NICE notes its evidence is inconsistent. Acupuncture also has limited evidence. Both are most useful alongside stretching and footwear changes. A physiotherapist or podiatrist can help you decide which suits you.

Acupuncture for plantar fasciitis in Chiswick

Our clinic is at 8 to 9 Bedford Corner, The Avenue, Chiswick W4 1LZ, close to Turnham Green station, on bus routes 94, E3 and 272. Limited parking is available on request when booking. Our acupuncturists and physiotherapists work under one roof, so if your heel needs a loading programme or gait advice, physiotherapy can be combined with acupuncture.

Try our plantar fasciitis exercises, read about sports injuries and shin splints if you run, or explore acupuncture in Chiswick.

Book acupuncture in Chiswick: a 60-minute session is £80, assessment included. Book online or call 020 4515 0000.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have any of the warning signs above, seek medical attention.