The client came for Bowen Therapy after experiencing painful feet and ankles for almost three weeks. He thought the discomfort might be related to arthritis or gout.
The left foot was the worst, with pain affecting the big toe, smaller toes and underside of the heel. The aching could reach 5/10 and was aggravated by unsuitable footwear and working on his allotment. The right foot had a similar but less severe pattern of pain.
He also had a history of twisting his right ankle after stepping into a rabbit hole in 2001. He preferred not to take painkillers, including prescribed Naproxen.
Session 1: Bowen Therapy for painful feet and ankles
The first session included the basic Bowen relaxation moves and procedures concentrating on the feet and ankles.
During the following week, the client experienced some tingling or “electrical activity” in his right ankle, foot and big toe. However, pain disappeared from both ankles and the smaller toes.
He also noticed an unexpected improvement in his strength and movement:
“I noticed I was bounding up my stairs in the morning. My legs felt very strong.”
Some aching remained in the big toes, but the client also reported sleeping extremely well following the treatment.
Session 2: Introducing Bowen procedures for GORD
By the second appointment, pain in both feet, ankles and toes had reduced to approximately 2–3/10. There was no longer any pain in the smaller toes, although the client continued wearing flat shoes to avoid aggravating his feet.
During this appointment, he mentioned that he also experienced gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or GORD. His acid reflux symptoms could reach 7–10/10 and included pain around the ribs and sternum.
The Bowen treatment therefore included gentle procedures for the diaphragm and pelvis alongside the work for his feet and ankles.
His response initially fluctuated. He experienced a difficult night with reflux and intermittent electrical sensations in both feet. However, there was almost no pain in the right foot, while the remaining discomfort in the left foot was a low-grade ache of approximately 2/10.
Progress during Sessions 3–5
Over the next three Bowen sessions, procedures for the feet and ankles were combined with work for the diaphragm, pelvis and TMJ.
By Session 3, the right foot, ankle and big toe were completely pain-free. The left big-toe pain had also reduced to 0/10, although some discomfort remained in the left ankle and smaller toes.
His GORD symptoms had reduced from 7–10/10 to approximately 4/10.
The client’s progress continued to fluctuate. The left foot and ankle could remain comfortable for several days before the ache temporarily returned. However, he described the remaining sensation as an uncomfortable ache rather than the previous pain.
By Session 4, the right foot remained completely pain-free and the left ankle was also at 0/10. His acid reflux had become much calmer, while rib and sternum pain—which had been present for approximately three months—had reduced from 7/10 to around 2/10.
Following this treatment, he had a good night’s sleep without reflux and no further reflux episodes during the remainder of the week.
At Session 5, the left foot, which had originally been the most painful, had been “perfect.” The ankle had only a slight ache of 1–2/10, and the toes were pain-free.
The right foot and ankle remained at 0/10, and the electrical sensations had stopped.
The client had experienced no further reflux and had not needed any additional medication or Gaviscon. His chest discomfort remained at approximately 2/10 but was “nothing like it had been.”
A week later, he continued to report no severe reflux episodes. Any discomfort in his feet, toes and ankles was intermittent and felt like an ache rather than pain, at approximately 2/10.
Summary of the results
After five Bowen Therapy sessions, the client reported:
Right foot and ankle pain reduced to 0/10.
Left foot and ankle pain reduced from 5/10 to an occasional ache of around 2/10.
Toe pain reduced to 0/10 by the fifth session.
GORD symptoms reduced from 7–10/10 to no severe reflux episodes.
No additional Gaviscon or reflux medication was needed.
Rib and sternum discomfort reduced from 7/10 to approximately 2/10.
Sleep improved following several sessions.
Conclusion
The client’s progress was not completely linear, and there were periods when some of the symptoms temporarily returned. However, the overall pattern across the five Bowen Therapy sessions was one of clear improvement.
The right foot and ankle became pain-free, while the more troublesome left foot improved to an occasional mild ache. His severe acid reflux episodes settled, his rib and sternum discomfort reduced considerably, and he no longer needed additional Gaviscon or reflux medication.
Although some mild and intermittent symptoms remained, the client experienced meaningful improvements in his foot pain, GORD, comfort, sleep and day-to-day wellbeing.
Find out more about Bowen