Acupuncture treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

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.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

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 it's running

• 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
• Email: wangweiming1a1@163.com
• Phone: +8613426424993

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Tibial nerve size and clinical features in chronic plantar fasciitis

  This study tests whether the size of the tibial nerve is related to plantar fascia thickness, pain sensitivity, foot posture, and function in people with long-standing plantar fasciitis.

  Recruiting Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey · Istanbul · NCT07878273

• Proprioception and Knee-Strengthening Added to Stretching for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

  This study tests whether adding knee-strengthening or proprioception exercises to a stretching program helps people with long-standing plantar fasciitis reduce pain and improve function.

  Recruiting Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University · Karaman, Karaman · NCT07754214

• Barefoot Walking vs Standardised Conservative Care for Plantar Fasciopathy

  This trial tests whether a barefoot walking program can reduce heel pain and improve foot function in adults with plantar fasciopathy compared with a standard stretching and strengthening program.

  Recruiting South East Technological University · Carlow, Carlow County · NCT07600229

• Platelet-rich plasma treatment for patellar, Achilles, elbow (epicondylitis), and plantar heel tendinopathies.

  This multicenter observational project will try platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to see if they reduce pain and improve function in adults with chronic patellar, Achilles, lateral elbow (epicondylitis), or plantar heel (fasciitis) tendinopathies.

  Recruiting at 5 sites ReSport Clinic · A Coruña and 4 other locations · NCT07558564

• Lateral plantar artery embolization for chronic heel pain

  This will test whether injecting a temporary blocking agent (Lipiodol) into the lateral plantar artery can reduce chronic heel pain in adults 25–80 who have not improved after at least three months of conservative care.

  Recruiting Phase 1 Joint & Vascular Institute · Libertyville, Illinois · NCT07395128

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.