bild

MODEL RELEASED. Acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture needles in the foot and lower leg of a 9-year-old girl who has Sever's Disease. This syndrome is caused by stress and trauma on the heel bone of the foot during growth. It is thought to be the most common cause of heel pain in children between the ages of 7 and 15. Acupuncture is a traditional treatment, originating in China, that inserts needles into specific points in the body to relieve pain. The insertion of the needles is thought to trigger the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/SAM OGDEN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)