This randomized trial looked at patients with chronic recalcitrant plantar fasciitis, a condition causing persistent heel pain. The researchers divided 120 participants into three groups: those receiving high-intensity acupuncture, those receiving low-intensity acupuncture, and a waitlist control group that received no treatment initially. The main goal was to see how many patients experienced at least a 50% reduction in their worst pain intensity by week 4.
By week 4, the combined acupuncture groups showed a significantly higher proportion of responders compared to the waitlist control. The difference was 23.3%, with 56.7% of acupuncture patients responding versus 33.3% of those on the waitlist. This suggests acupuncture may offer relief sooner than doing nothing.
Follow-up at week 16 showed that high-intensity acupuncture continued to outperform the waitlist control, with a 40.0% difference in responder rates. Low-intensity acupuncture also showed a 20.0% difference, though this was not statistically significant. No adverse events, serious issues, or discontinuations were reported during the study.
Readers should note this is a small trial with 120 participants. While the results are promising, the study size limits how broadly these findings apply. Patients with chronic heel pain might consider acupuncture, but they should discuss options with a healthcare provider to weigh benefits against personal needs.
