Acupuncture treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis

Acupuncture of Different Treatment Frequency in Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

This study tests whether different frequencies of electroacupuncture can help people with chronic plantar fasciitis feel less heel pain and improve their foot function.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Beijing)
• Trial ID: NCT06284993 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of different frequencies of electroacupuncture in treating chronic plantar fasciitis, a common cause of heel pain. Patients diagnosed with chronic plantar fasciitis for at least six months will receive either more frequent or less frequent electroacupuncture sessions. The study aims to assess pain relief and functional improvement in participants. By comparing treatment frequencies, the research seeks to determine the optimal approach for managing this condition.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 75 who have been diagnosed with chronic plantar fasciitis for at least six months and experience significant morning heel pain.

Not a fit: Patients with a history of foot or ankle surgery, systemic diseases, or severe foot deformities may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a non-invasive treatment option that significantly reduces pain and improves mobility for patients with chronic plantar fasciitis.

How similar studies have performed: While acupuncture has been explored in various studies for pain management, the specific approach of varying treatment frequency in chronic plantar fasciitis is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with a diagnosis of chronic PF with a disease course of ≥ 6 months;
* The most painful heel pain in the morning is Visual Analogue Scale (VAS; 0 indicating no pain and 100 indicating maximal pain) ≥ 40 mm on a 100 mm VAS;
* Patients between the ages of 18 and 75 years;
* Patients should be conscious, free from mental disorders, and without serious heart, liver, or kidney diseases; and
* Willing to sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of calcaneal tuberosity fracture/calcaneal stress fracture/calcaneal contusion/plantar fascia rupture;
* History of ankle or foot surgery;
* Achilles tendon enthesis lesion/tarsal tunnel syndrome/medial calcaneal nerve entrapment/nerve injury;
* Systemic or local infection, severe cracked heel, foot deformity (e.g., high arched feet, flat feet, foot valgus);
* Systemic diseases (e.g., obligatory spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative arthritis, autoimmune system diseases, tumors, diabetes ) and other situations judged by the investigators not to be suitable for the clinical trial;
* Pregnant women; patients with severe combined cardiac, hepatic, renal, hematopoietic, and patients with cardiac pacemakers , and patients with severe poor general nutritional status;
* Cognitive impairment, inability to understand the content of the scale evaluation;
* Topical steroid injection or oral use in the past 6 months;
* Patients with a known fear of acupuncture or who have been treated with acupuncture in the past 8 weeks.

Where this trial is running

Beijing

• Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital — Beijing, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Weiming Wang, Ph.D — Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
• Study coordinator: Weiming Wang, Ph.D

Conditions Plantar Fasciitis, Chronic