Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS ORTHOPEDIC ACUPUNCTURE?
Orthopedic Acupuncture involves a thorough assessment of the patient’s medical history, physical examination which includes performing traditional orthopedic tests, manual muscle tests, and review of any imaging studies. After your evaluation a combination of techniques will be used to treat chronic pain and injury and restore function to pathological tissue. This is usually a more active style of acupuncture that releases trigger points (a knotted tender area in your muscle) through a technique called “dry needling” and may also include, electrical stimulation, neurofunctional acupuncture, prolo-acupuncture, motor point acupuncture, and more. Other modalities might include movement therapy and manual and instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (cupping, gua sha)
DOES IT HURT?
Ummmm…it can. It is normal to feel some discomfort during dry needling, especially when the needle contacts the trigger point and produces a muscle twitch. However, the level of pain varies for each person and typically subsides quickly. Dry needling can be uncomfortable, but usually so effective that it is considered “worth it”, as quality of life or athletic performance can improve dramatically after dry needling treatments. Remember you are always in charge of your treatment, we will take it slow, and we can stop anytime.
That being said...
There are many types of Orthopedic Acupuncture that can be mostly pain-free like motor point acupuncture with electrical stimulation. Don’t miss out on treatment because you think it may hurt. We will talk about all possibilities and find what will work best for you.
Post-treatment there may be soreness. Not an increase in typical pain but sore muscles like you had a hard gym workout. This usually resolves in 24-36 hours.
We treat patients within the context of Eastern medicine and integrate Western orthopedic diagnostic techniques to inform our diagnoses and refine our treatment.
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That depends on the problem. While there are exceptions, usually if the problem is minor, say a sprained ankle, a few well-timed treatments should speed healing. On the other hand, a longstanding chronic condition will take more time to resolve but based on a patient's response after an initial series of 4-6 visits, we can gauge how many more treatments may be needed, if any. The initial series of treatments can be considered therapeutic and diagnostic
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Magic…
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Traditional Chinese medicine explains that energy called qi, (pronounced “chee”), and blood circulate through pathways or meridians in the body. Meridians are different from the circulatory, nervous, or lymph systems. They are the pathways by which qi and blood circulate through the body between the organs and tissues. An obstruction in the movement of energy flow through a meridian congests the flow of qi and blood which can cause pain and other disorders. Needling specific acupuncture points unblocks the congestion and reestablishes the free flow of energy through the meridians. From a Western scientific perspective, acupuncture stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain to change the experience of pain or to trigger the release of pain-relieving chemicals and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating system. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing abilities and promotes physical and emotional well-being.