A Review of Clinical Research on Korean Medicine Treatment for Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is a compressive neuropathy caused by pressure within the tarsal tunnel. It manifests as ankle pain and sensory abnormalities that considerably impact daily life. The present study aimed to synthesize the data obtained from clinical research on Korean medicine treatments for TTS to evaluate their efficacy. A comprehensive search of five databases identified 14 studies that met the study’s predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The treatments utilized in these studies included acupuncture, acupotomy, electroacupuncture, herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, fumigation, chuna, warm acupuncture, and cupping. Acupotomy was the most frequently used treatment method. The Ashi points were the most frequently used acupoints, followed by KI3 and KI6. Although all the studies reported favorable outcomes, limitations such as small sample sizes and insufficient documentation of adverse effects were noted. These findings suggest that Korean medicine treatment may offer effective therapeutic options for TTS.