An elite athlete came in with over six months of persistent plantar fasciitis that had not responded to prior care. Despite trying multiple interventions—including different footwear, physical therapy, massage, dry needling, and self-care techniques—the pain remained severe.
Symptoms were concentrated in the arch and heel of the right foot, with early signs beginning in the left. Pain was most intense in the morning and would ease slightly throughout the day, but never fully resolved.
Despite ongoing care, the problem kept returning:
Up to this point, treatment had focused primarily on the hamstring itself—addressing symptoms, but not the root cause.
Through a combined physical and Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment, we identified a deeper pattern contributing to the recurring injury.
Rather than isolating the hamstring, we followed the full fascial chain and found significant tension and restriction in the upper back, neck, and shoulders. This created a cascading effect through the body, placing ongoing strain on the hamstring.
Treatment focused on:
With a focus on treating the root cause rather than just the symptom:
He went on to compete at the professional level and has not experienced a recurrence of hamstring strain since.
EastWest Acupuncture is proud to work with a unique group of businesses throughout Minnesota offering our wide range of eastern and western styles of medicine. To learn more about our partnership program email admin@tcmeastwest.com
