Acupuncture for Plantar Fasciitis in San Francisco
Heel pain that's worst with your first steps in the morning? We treat plantar fasciitis in runners and active people with acupuncture, dry needling, cupping and soft-tissue work, alongside a plan to get you back on your feet.
Sound familiar?
- Sharp heel pain with your first steps in the morning
- Pain that eases as you warm up, then returns after you stop
- Heel pain after long runs, not always during them
What our patients say
5.0 on Google from 92 reviews
I came to Andrew after nearly six excruciating months of not being able to run. I had a seemingly minor Achilles tendon injury that simply refused to heal, defying every modality I tried. I hoped Andrew, a specialist in sports injuries, could break the deadlock. The simple answer is that in three visits, I was running again, hardly able to believe my good fortune. The more complicated answer runs deeper. Andrew’s work doesn’t just address physical injury; he works on spiritual and emotional injury and stress too. I didn’t realize that my physical injury was bound up with emotional trauma, but he did, and he figured out how to disentangle them so the healing process could start. The process can be painful; emotional injuries that have lodged in your body have to work their way out through muscle and bone, like a physical illness. But it’s also both profound and unexpected. As another of Andrew’s clients said, he is a true healer.
Andrew Castellanos has helped my Achilles tendinosis and tendinitis with acupuncture, not only getting the swelling down, but also massaging the area after. His therapeutic work has enabled me to continue dancing at a high level without having to take a break, so I’m able to dance with injury due to the therapeutic work that Andrew does.
I could not recommend Andrew enough! He has so much knowledge on the human body and can figure out quickly what areas need work. I went in with major back pain that kept me from lifting weights or running, and after a few sessions I am pain free.
Gosh, I'm so happy I found Andrew! Thanks to him, I avoided going down a surgery route for my injury! In June 2022, my left knee started acting up (my best guess is overcompensation for gluteal tendonitis I was treating) but I pushed through to backpack 264 miles on the John Muir Trail. When I finished my trek, my left knee was pretty unhappy and I couldn't even get in and out of my car without feeling like a jigsaw puzzle. I tirelessly saw dozens of providers over the next year - chiropractors, physical therapists, orthopedists, massage therapists, etc. All had their own theories - soleus muscle, calf strain, chronic exertional compartment syndrome, etc. The complexity in my case was that my pain was not in my knee itself - it was on the left side in between my knee cap and calf. Despite my knee MRI showing meniscus tears, inflammation, tendonosis, etc. the doctors insisted we treat the symptoms, not the MRIs. So, I got a calf MRI, hip MRI, and an EMG, all of which were negative. Then, one doctor recommended oral Prednisone, and he told me I should see results better than Advil for pain management. It did nothing. It wasn't until I was finally referred to one doctor who noticed something in my knee MRI and caught that there is excess fluid in my proximal tibiofibular joint (PBTJ), and that area tracks with where I feel my pain. To test his suspicion diagnostically, he recommended an ultrasound-guided cortisone injection in my PBTJ to see if that reduced my pain. The pain did decrease (which was good), but it wasn't gone. The doctors informed me issues concerning the PBTJ are rare, and that they needed to refer me to one of the only specialists in the country for this. That specialist happened to be in Minnesota, and when I checked his website, he was only seeing patients for surgery. I did not want surgery. I felt completely defeated, unsure where to go next. In May, I was recommended by someone who also had a challenging journey with injuries (and was able to return to running and hiking) to try acupuncture. I was surprised, since I had not considered Eastern Medicine before for a sports injury. The person specifically recommended I search for an acupuncturist who specializes in athletes, and that led me to find "Acupuncture for Athletics." :) My first appointment with Andrew was May 30, and he patiently listened to my whole ordeal and reviewed all of the documentation I brought (MRIs, doctor's notes, etc). He assured me he treats the root cause, which I appreciated because I did not want to do a band-aid fix only for this to return again, and that he has hope I can feel better. We started off with cupping along my left leg to encourage the inflammation to dissipate, and then we did needles in my leg. Oof, I remember one session when Andrew placed a needle near my PBTJ - I screamed SO loudly lol. But once all of the needles were in, it slowly felt like a meditative experience, and I was able to relax into it. Over my 7 sessions with Andrew, I began to notice the needles felt less painful. In the beginning, I remember feeling the pain just in walking over to Andrew's office. By the 6th session, I realized I wasn't thinking about my pain anymore. I did one more session to be sure, and I was in disbelief that I actually felt pain-free! We decided to go a month testing how the pain fared without regular sessions, and so far so good! The pain flares here and there, but in a MUCH less capacity than before. Throughout this whole process, Andrew was kind, patient, and determined. He was committed to solving the underlying issue, and he was flexible and accommodating to me - whether I wanted to address my left knee or start tackling similar pain that was creeping up on my right knee. Had it not been for Andrew, I would have likely chased surgery because I was running out of ideas. I appreciate you, Andrew! If you're nearing your wits' end with a chronic injury, please go see Andrew and give it a good ~5 sessions if you can. Wishing everyone out there good luck on their chronic pain journeys! You got this!
Andrew applies his knowledge of the body and expert techniques to address affected muscles both for maintenance during training and related to injury. His combination of acupuncture and massage helps to open up areas and find the place to target. I have seen Andrew in the past for recovery post concussion and most recently for routine maintenance while training at a high level for my next marathon. I highly recommend Andrew and am lucky to have him as a part of my support team to stay healthy! - Katie Hynes, competitive runner -
As an avid runner who is always training for an endurance race my body has a tendency to break down. Andrew is a legit magician. He’s able to get to the root off the problem quickly and I often don’t miss a beat with regards to my training. Marathon prep would not be possible otherwise.
Andrew is the best. I’m a professional ballerina and his treatments helped me come back from a broken foot. When you see Andrew - you’re comforted by his knowledge, expertise, & strategy based treatment. Plus the clinic is so relaxing and warm. I have complete trust that he will help my aches and pains and keep me dancing for a long time.
Andrew introduced me to a form of healing which, after years of competitive long distance running and many injuries, I am more than thankful to have discovered! My latest injury, a small tear in my left hamstring, sidelined me for a number of months. After trying rest, physical therapy and anti-inflammatories with little results, I finally met Andrew. His approach from the very beginning was completely methodical, precise and extremely professional. Right away the pain eased, and I felt my body finally respond to treatment. Andrew was instrumental in healing my hamstring, and I trust that his acupuncture/massage techniques will keep me healthy and, importantly, keep me running for many decades and miles.
Andrew’s massage and acupuncture techniques have seen me successfully through back-to-back marathons seven weeks apart, plus two active pregnancies and a record-breaking racing season in between. He is a veritable genius in his field — a true healer.
In our career it is very important to stay physically healthy, because our dance career is very short. We rehearse, work out every single day, and very often, because of the physical pressure from practicing so hard, we get injuries and surgery. My story is about my back, foot and wrist. I joined San Francisco Ballet a year ago. The first day of work, during ballet class, I hurt my back. I have had problems before with my wrist, and sadly, later on with the tough season, my foot got hurt. Luckily, I was recommended to Andrew Castellanos. I started with a few visits a month, and quickly saw results, so I made sure I finished my treatments. Thanks to Andrew, I was able to finish my successful season here. Now I have to spread the word…
I loved coming to Andrew. He was a lifesaver in helping me through some back issues when I was pregnant with my first child. A lovely, warm place and Andrew is amazing!!!!
Andrew is a fantastic alternative and addition to physical therapy. He quickly understands your condition and treats it effectively.
Does this sound like you?
Plantar fasciitis is irritation of the thick band of tissue along the sole of your foot, usually where it attaches to the heel. These are the classic signs.
If several sound familiar, an assessment will tell us what's really going on.
- Sharp heel pain with your first steps in the morning
- Pain that eases as you warm up, then returns after you stop
- Heel pain after long runs, not always during them
- A stab in the heel when you stand up after sitting
- Aching after long periods on your feet
- Tenderness on the inside of the heel
- Tight calves or Achilles
What's going on in your foot
The plantar fascia supports your arch and stores energy with every stride. When the load on it rises faster than it can adapt, it becomes irritated where it attaches to the heel. Long-standing cases often look less like inflammation and more like worn, overloaded tissue, which is why rest alone rarely fixes it.
That's why it so often shows up after a jump in mileage, a new pair of shoes or a stretch of long days on your feet. The pain is in the heel, but the cause usually sits further up the chain too: tight calves, a stiff ankle, or a change in how you load your foot.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons calls it one of the most common causes of heel pain. Treating it well means calming the heel and fixing what overloaded it.
Common contributors
- A jump in running mileage, hills or speed work
- Tight calves and Achilles
- Worn or unsupportive shoes
- Long hours standing on hard floors
- A change of surface, like more concrete or trail
- Flat feet or high arches
Who gets plantar fasciitis
Runners are the classic case, but we see it just as often in people who spend all day on their feet. It's most common between the ages of 40 and 60.
People we see most
Related problems we treat
- Running injuries of all kinds
- Achilles pain and stiffness
- Tight, cramping calves
- Shin splints
- Ankle stiffness after a sprain
How we treat plantar fasciitis
Most visits combine several treatments, chosen for your foot, your calves and your training.
- Sports acupunctureTo calm pain and support recovery in the heel and arch.
- Dry needlingTo release trigger points in the calf and the small muscles of the foot.
- CuppingTo free up tight tissue through the calf and along the sole.
- Cold laserLow-level laser, commonly used for slow-healing soft tissue.
- Sports massageTo loosen the calf, Achilles and arch.
Who performs dry needling in California?
In California, dry needling is performed by licensed acupuncturists. Physical therapists in California are not currently authorized to perform dry needling. All three of our practitioners are California-licensed acupuncturists.
What the research says
First, the good news: most plantar fasciitis gets better. The AAOS reports that more than 90% of people improve within 10 months of simple treatment. Acupuncture and dry needling aim to ease the pain and speed things along while the tissue adapts.
In a randomized trial of 53 people, those needled at a point traditionally used for heel pain had a bigger drop in morning pain a month later than those needled at a general pain-relief point. A 2012 review of eight studies concluded the evidence for acupuncture is comparable to that for stretching or night splints, two standard treatments.
For dry needling, a 2014 trial of 84 people found weekly sessions for six weeks reduced first-step heel pain more than a sham. A 2021 review of six trials found that it reduces pain and improves function.
A 2024 analysis of 32 studies compared acupuncture with shockwave therapy, steroid and PRP injections. At one month, acupuncture showed the largest pain reduction of all of them compared with placebo. Want to know more about the technique? Read how dry needling works.
What studies have found
- Acupuncture and dry needling eased heel pain in trials
- Acupuncture had the largest one-month pain reduction in a 2024 comparison
- It works best alongside calf work and smart loading
- It's a low-risk, non-drug option
Your plan
How long it takes varies from person to person. We'll give you an honest estimate after your first visit.
Assess
We look at your foot, calves, footwear and training load to understand why it started, and rule out anything that needs a doctor.
Settle it down
Early visits focus on calming pain and releasing the tight tissue around your heel, arch and calf.
Load back up
We guide your return to running and long days on your feet, so the tissue adapts instead of flaring again.
Keep it away
Once you're back to normal, we space visits out and leave you with the habits that stop it coming back.
Between visits
What you do off the table matters as much as what happens on it. These are the basics we give most patients.
At home and at work
Stretch your calves gently a few times a day, especially before your first steps in the morning. Rolling the arch over a ball can ease tightness.
Wear supportive shoes around the house rather than going barefoot on hard floors, and swap out worn shoes. If you stand all day, a cushioned mat helps.
Back to running
You often don't have to stop completely. Cut your volume, skip hills and speed work for now, and cross-train on the bike or in the pool if running flares it.
Build back gradually once mornings feel better. Cupping and massage on tight calves help between runs; see how sports cupping works.
When to see a doctor first
Heel pain isn't always plantar fasciitis. Some signs point to a stress fracture, a pinched nerve, arthritis or an infection, and need a physician before anything else.
If any of these apply, please see your doctor first. We're happy to work alongside them once you're cleared.
See a physician if you have
- Sudden, severe heel pain after a fall or a jump
- Trouble putting any weight on your foot
- Numbness, tingling or burning in the foot
- Redness, heat or swelling, or a fever
- Pain at night or at rest that keeps getting worse
Who'll treat you
We're three California-licensed acupuncturists trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and we see running injuries every week. Andrew Castellanos has been on call for the Impala Racing Team and treated athletes for USF and at MLB spring training. Treatment covers your calf and ankle as well as the heel.
Andrew Castellanos
L.Ac, CST · Clinic owner
Heel pain in runners, with dry needling, cupping and calf work.
- Former on-call acupuncturist for the Impala Racing Team
- Plantar fasciitis is one of the injuries he treats most
- Deep tissue sports massage and soft tissue mobilization
Ali Hakimi
L.Ac
Local acupuncture and cupping for heel pain and injury recovery.
- Diet and lifestyle guidance to support healing
- Seventh-generation practitioner of traditional medicine
Suzanne Lange
DACM, L.Ac, CMT
Orthopedic acupuncture and myofascial work for heel and arch pain.
- Whitfield Reaves Sports Medicine Apprenticeship
- Certified massage therapist trained in trigger point therapy
Pricing and booking
Plantar fasciitis is treated within a standard session, using whatever mix of acupuncture, dry needling, cupping, laser and massage your foot needs.
We don't bill insurance, but we provide a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement, and we accept HSA and FSA cards and all credit cards. We're on Webster Street, an easy walk for anyone looking for acupuncture in the Marina District.
Appointments
- 60-min initial acupuncture & assessment
- $225
- 45-min acupuncture follow-up
- $195
- 60-min acupuncture/massage combo
- $225
- 75-min acupuncture/massage combo
- $265
- 90-min acupuncture/massage combo
- $300
Plantar fasciitis FAQ
Can acupuncture help plantar fasciitis?
Acupuncture and dry needling are commonly used to reduce heel pain and release tight calf and foot muscles, and trials and reviews have found they can ease heel pain and improve function. They work best as part of a plan that includes managing your training load. Results vary from person to person, and we'll estimate how many sessions you'll need after your assessment.
Is dry needling or acupuncture better for plantar fasciitis?
Studies support both for heel pain, and they aren't either-or. Dry needling targets trigger points in the calf and foot muscles, while acupuncture works on pain and recovery more broadly. As licensed acupuncturists we can use both and often combine them in one session.
Do you put needles in the bottom of my foot?
Not always. Much of the work happens in the calf and the muscles around the heel, ankle and arch. If needling near the sole would help, we'll explain why and check you're comfortable first.
Can I keep running?
Often, yes, with changes. Many runners keep training at a reduced load while we treat it, dropping hills and speed work and cross-training if needed. We'll help you decide what to cut back and what's fine to keep.
How long does it take to get better?
It varies. A recent flare-up can settle in weeks, while long-standing cases often take months. The AAOS reports that more than 90% of people improve within 10 months of simple treatment, and starting early usually helps.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on how long you've had it and what's driving it. Visits usually start closer together and space out as your mornings improve. We'll give you an estimate after your first assessment rather than a fixed package.
Is it a heel spur?
Heel spurs often show up on X-rays, but they usually aren't the source of the pain. The AAOS notes that most people with heel spurs have no heel pain, and plantar fasciitis can be treated without removing a spur.
Do I need a referral or an X-ray?
You don't need a referral to book with us. If your symptoms suggest something other than plantar fasciitis, such as a stress fracture, we'll refer you to a physician for imaging.
What should I wear to my appointment?
Shorts, or loose pants that roll up past the knee, so we can reach your calves and feet. Bring the shoes you run or work in if you can.
Do you take insurance?
We don't bill insurance directly. We'll give you a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement, and we accept HSA and FSA cards and all credit cards.
Where can I find acupuncture for plantar fasciitis near the Marina?
We treat plantar fasciitis at 2920 Webster Street, in Cow Hollow on the Marina border. Andrew Castellanos, who has been on call for the Impala Racing Team, uses acupuncture, dry needling, cupping and soft-tissue work for heel pain in runners and active people. Read more about our acupuncture care for the Marina.
Where can I park so I don't have to walk far on a sore heel?
Metered spaces on Union Street are one block from our door, and the Union Laguna Garage is at 1910 Union Street. Visitor parking on the surrounding residential streets is time-limited, so read the signs. If mornings are when your heel hurts most, a later visit may suit you better: we see patients until 9pm every day.
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Plantar Fasciitis and Bone Spurs. OrthoInfo.
- Zhang SP, et al. Acupuncture Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Six Months Follow-Up. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011.
- Clark RJ, Tighe M. The Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Plantar Heel Pain: A Systematic Review. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2012.
- Cotchett MP, et al. Effectiveness of Trigger Point Dry Needling for Plantar Heel Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Physical Therapy. 2014.
- Llurda-Almuzara L, et al. Is Dry Needling Effective for the Management of Plantar Heel Pain or Plantar Fasciitis? An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain Medicine. 2021.
- Asokumaran I, et al. Comparative Effectiveness of Acupuncture Versus Non-surgical Modalities for Treating Plantar Fasciitis: A Network Meta-Analysis. Cureus. 2024.
Ready to get back on your feet?
Book an assessment at our Cow Hollow clinic, or call us to talk it through first.
Visit us in Cow Hollow
2920 Webster Street, between Union and Filbert. A short walk from the Marina, Pacific Heights and the Presidio.
Address
Acupuncture for Athletics2920 Webster Street
San Francisco, CA 94123 Gate code: in your booking confirmation email
Hours
- Every day
- 7:30am – 9:00pm