► Scraping for Plantar Fasciitis
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Scraping - Gua Sha - for Plantar Fasciitis
First, you have to know that a plantar fasciitis is not a local problem. It is a result of long-term biomechanical faults in your body.
Researches show that hamstring tightness plays a significant role in the development of plantar fasciitis and must be addressed along with equinus and obesity when providing treatment to patients with plantar fasciitis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21368068
And the results of this study
also find that an increase in hamstring tightness may induce prolonged forefoot loading as a contributing factor that increases repetitive strain injury to the plantar fascia.
This article is written by famous Thomas Myers and definitely worth reading before proceeding.
He wrote a book "Anatomy Trains" - the book about the fascial connection in the body. And in a nutshell, everything is connected to everything.
Another great video worth watching is by Leslie Caminoff - a famous yoga Educator. Check it in the end of this article.
Gua Sha Scraping for Plantar Fasciitis
Arya Nielsen describes the case of a male, 53, with a foot pain/Morton’s neuroma and plantar fasciitis.
He was a runner complaining of stabbing pain in both feet. Except for being an enthusiastic runner, the patient was also a downhill skier. He didn't complain of the pain while running or skiing but afterward, the pain was intense and excruciating.
Continued movement and ice eased the pain.
He drank 4–5 coffee cups every day.
The Treatment with Gua Sha and Acupuncture
Back Area
BL 59, BL 23, GB 34, GB 30, Ah Shi on right hip.
Gua sha to low back, hip and GB 30 area.
Front Area
GB 38, 40, 41. LIV 3, Ah Shi on bottom of foot with moxa burnt on needle.
Additionally for neuroma: electrical stimulation on needles between ST 44 and Ah Shi at bottom of the right foot at160 cycles/second and 2000 amps.
Electrical stimulation in 'Chase the Dragon's Tail' method with moist cotton probes from ST 36 to foot Ah Shi points, ST 36 through foot, points between the metatarsals through to bottom of foot, including LIV 3.
The patient received three treatments, after which he left on winter vacation where he would be on a boat for one month and able to rest the foot.
He also received the recommendations to stop the coffee, stretch (see below), massage and, if necessary, ice foot. He was given Seven Forests Stephania tablets.
After the very first treatment, the intensity of pain decreased. He was able to run several times suffering less pain afterward. Both feet improved notably by the time he left for vacation.
Important!
The lower back is always scraped first in case of any lower extremity problems. In this case gua sha is never applied to the extremety alone. These problems include but are not limited for fractures and sprains, or strains, obstructed walking for any reason, arthritis of the knee, foot or lower leg, tarsal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis and heel spurs, etc.
Gua sha can be applied from the body down the affected region of the leg, above, below and over a region directly. The acupoints are not intended as a must but are suggested for core treatments.
Plantar Fasciitis Needling
BL 60, 54, 25, 23; GB 30, 31, 34; Sacral Ah Shi; Lateral sacral Ah Shi
Scraping
Gua sha to calf, low back and hip region
Additional needling
K3, BL 60;
Palpate and Tx BL 57 area and reactive points of the calf
Tips to Overcome Plantar Fasciitis
A full recovery from Plantar Fasciitis needs a patient's compliance with a home care. It's essential.
1. STRETCHING: Perform these stretches often: hamstring standing stretches, calf stretches, hamstring-calf stretches combo, downward dog from yoga. The more the better.
2. Until a fully recover, spend as less as possible time barefoot, especially on hard surfaces such as hardwood floors. Obtain supportive slip-on shoes and have them available to wear in the house.
3. The icing is very helpful in the acute stages of plantar fasciitis. Rolling a frozen beer can or water bottle under the arch of the foot while seated might be a good idea. Wait until the end of the day to do this. So that you won't be doing much walking after that.
4. As you get better, you can roll a golf or tennis (choose what is better for you) ball under the arch of a foot. Pause and press more firmly into tender spots.
5. Roll your calves on the foam roll.
