Vital Foot Acupuncture Benefits for Pain in Feet, Ankles, and Heels

Makari Wellness – Highly Efficient Foot Acupuncture for Ankle, Heel, and Foot Pain

Makari Wellness has been providing foot acupunctures for over 15 years, successfully resolving the symptoms of pain, discomfort, limited mobility, and decreased function in feet, heels, and ankles.

We use acupuncture for tendonitis in the foot and ankle, plantar fasciitis, peripheral neuropathy, and other conditions resulting from neurological, anatomical, or muscular problems. Book your appointment at (888) 871-8889 or fill out the form to get the best foot acupuncture San Diego has to offer.

What is Foot Pain?

Believe it or not, the foot is one of the most complex body parts. It consists of 38 bones interconnected with joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Since the foot is constantly exposed to stress, it is prone to many problems that might cause pain, discomfort, or inability to perform daily tasks.

Many factors can cause foot pain, but the most common one is a condition known as abnormal pronation. Abnormal pronation refers to a problem in which the foot doesn’t strike or leave the ground the way it should, but it is not the only reason people develop foot conditions. Improper foot posture, inadequate footwear, inflammation, injuries, and increased pressure and stress may also affect the foot’s function.

Various foot problems may also affect the heels, toes, nerves, ligaments, tendons, and foot joints. They include the following conditions:

• Heel spurs – an abnormal growth on the heel bone.
• Corns – yellowish growths that develop on the toes’ tops.
• Bunions – a protrusion of tissue or bone around a joint.
• Neuromas – a buildup of tissue in the nerves that run between the long foot bones.
• Hammertoes – a condition that makes the middle joint of the toe to poke out.

The truth is that everyone can develop foot conditions, but the most affected groups include infants and newborns who’re learning to walk and people over age 50.

Foot pain is also prevalent in women who frequently wear shoes with high heels, as well as athletes who don’t warm up before exercise or use inadequate foot techniques while exercising.

Can Acupuncture Help Foot Pain?

Acupuncture has been used for addressing different kinds of pain throughout the years. It has proven to be efficient in treating chronic foot pain, relieving discomfort, and improving the foot function lost or reduced due to underlying conditions.

Acupuncture involves using small, hair-thin, and stainless-steel needles to stimulate specific acupoints on the patient’s body to relieve pain, treat body disorders, encourage blood flow and release energy that has been stuck. Acupuncture on the feet is an entirely safe and painless method that has the ability to ease discomfort by improving hormone levels, strengthening the immune system, and neurotransmitters in the body.

Acupuncture has provided significant outcomes in treating pain in feet, ankles, and heels, whether caused by a particular condition (Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, neuropathy, etc.), or an injury. The point stimulation helps release endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers) and enkephalins, which play a significant role in pain management.

The selected feet acupuncture points will depend on the affected area, and the exact number of sessions will be based on the patient’s general health and response to treatments.

MORE BENEFITS OF ACUPUNCTURE:

• How to Treat Tendonitis with Acupuncture, Dry Needling, and Herbs
• Sciatica: Definition, Symptoms, and Best Sciatica Treatments
• Bulging Disc Treatment, Symptoms, and Most Common Causes
• Essential Benefits of Acupuncture for Spinal Stenosis
• Acupuncture for Neck Pain – The Best Neck Pain Relief Therapy
• Health Benefits of Acupuncture for Back Pain
• Acupuncture for TMJ Disorders: Benefits and Uses
• Adrenal Fatigue Treatment, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

Acupuncture for Foot Drop

Foot drop is characterized by difficulty lifting the front part of the foot, which is most noticeable while walking when your toes drag the floor. It is often a sign of an underlying neurological (stroke, multiple sclerosis), anatomical, or muscular condition.

It may be caused by various factors, including nerve injury, muscle or nerve disorders, or disorders associated with the brain or spine. It usually affects one foot, but certain underlying conditions may affect both feet.

Acupuncture for foot drop is very effective in treating this problem, whether it resulted from a stroke or another common cause. Regular sessions may reduce pain and improve the range of motion, lost due to the accumulation of fluids and qi, which are blocking healthy pathways.

A licensed acupuncturist may address different acupoints for foot drop, depending on the factors that caused it. For example:

Acupuncture for Peripheral Neuropathy and Foot Tingling

Peripheral neuropathy is caused by nerve damage, resulting in numbness, weakness, and pain in the hands, legs, or feet. There are many types of neuropathy, and the symptoms may vary from patient to patient. Still, most of them may notice changes in their ability to move, oversensitivity to heat and touch, muscle weakness, stabbing pain, and foot tingling.

Acupuncture for foot neuropathy has proven its efficiency in treating conditions associated with nerve damage. The needles inserted during the procedure stimulate the nervous system, releasing endorphins in the muscles, brain, and spine, changing your body’s response to pain.

A licensed practitioner may suggest electroacupuncture and moxibustion for treating chronic pain caused by peripheral neuropathy to deliver better and more long-lasting results.

You can read the whole article about the benefits of acupuncture for neuropathy here.

Acupuncture for Heel Pain

Heel pain may be caused by different conditions, including plantar fasciitis (affects the bottom of the heel) and Achilles tendonitis (affects the back of the heel). Both conditions may cause intense heel pain, especially when placing weight onto the foot.

Plantar fasciitis, which is one of the most common causes of heel pain, is characterized by pain and inflammation of the tissue band that runs across the bottom of the foot. You might not feel discomfort during physical activities or while walking, but the pain may occur once you stop or after you’ve been sitting or standing for a while.

Acupuncture can help people suffering from plantar fasciitis, especially when combined with herbs, foot baths, and Active Release Techniques (ART). A holistic approach consisting of different techniques delivers better outcomes and more long-lasting improvements.

Acupuncture for Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is another cause of heel pain. It is common in athletes and weekend runners, who often injure their Achilles tendon during their activities. The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in our body that connects the calf muscles to the heel bones, allowing us to perform the activities such as walking, running, and jumping. Achilles tendonitis comes as a result of strain on tendons, which cause pain and limited mobility.

Acupuncture for Achilles tendonitis is a very efficient treatment solution often recommended by physicians and sports medicine specialists. Regular acupuncture sessions can strengthen the body and repair damage to tendons, promote a potent anti-inflammatory response, increase circulation to the tendon and tissue around it, and encourage a healing response.

Acupuncture for Sprained Ankle

A sprained ankle is an injury that occurs when you twist or turn your ankle in an unusual way. This can tear the ligaments that hold your ankle bones together, preventing excessive movement. The injury may vary from mild to severe, which is why you might need other treatment options besides self-care measures and over-the-counter medicines.

If you have injured your ankles more than once, it’s possible that you have damaged the deep ligaments in the ankle. Still, the needle stimulation of the ankle joint can increase the blood flow to the area and stimulate the healing process, which is something that only acupuncture can do.

Namely, a certified acupuncturist can insert a needle right into the ankle joint to promote healing, alleviate pain, boost the range of motion, decrease swelling, and ensure optimal nerve function.

Acupressure is another efficient method for alleviating ankle pain. Consider the following pressure points for ankle pain to ease discomfort and improve mobility:

• Press the ankle bone’s inner side for 30 seconds, release, and apply more pressure for 30 more seconds. Repeat for 8 minutes and breathe deeply as you do it.
• Find the part between your ankle and lower Achilles tendon, and apply pressure on it with your thumb. Hold for 30 seconds, then release and repeat for 5 minutes.
• You will find this pressure point along your wrist line. All you need to do is apply pressure to the middle of your wrist using your thumb. Hold it for 2 minutes, but do not press too hard.