Acupuncture is a traditional form of Chinese medicine that can be effective in treating a variety of health related conditions.
Acupuncture is a traditional form of Chinese medicine that involves inserting very thin needles in strategic points on your body. These needles are then manually stimulated by the physiotherapist or they are hooked up to a portable electrical stimulation device.
Acupuncture can be effective in treating a variety of health related conditions. Acupuncture is believed to work by stimulating the central nervous system. This in turn, can stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself. With your consent, your physiotherapist can incorporate specific acupuncture points into your treatment session to help decrease pain, reduce inflammation and promote healing to optimize function.
Acupuncture performed by a Registered Physiotherapist is most commonly used to treat:
It is important to note that acupuncture performed by a Registered Physiotherapist differs from acupuncture performed by a Registered Acupuncturist. Acupuncturists are able to treat:
Acupuncture performed by a Registered Acupuncturist has a much broader scope and their services are typically covered by extended healthcare insurance programs under the service “Acupuncture”. Acupuncture performed by a physiotherapist can only be billed as a physiotherapy service.
Acupuncture can stimulate the release of endorphins (our bodies natural pain killers) providing relief to painful joints and muscles. This can create a natural stress-reduction response leaving you feeling relaxed and serene.
Research has shown that acupuncture is effective in improving function immediately after treatment. People with low-back pain have reported immediate reductions in pain and an increase in mobility. Typically, the effectiveness of acupuncture is most often seen immediately after treatment.
If you’ve never had acupuncture before, it can be a little intimidating. Not only are needles involved, but it may be difficult to imagine what actually happens during an acupuncture session. Once your initial assessment is performed and acupuncture is determined to be an appropriate treatment option, your physiotherapist will explain where the needles will be inserted and any potential adverse event that can occur.
Loose, comfortable clothing should be worn so that the physiotherapist can access the necessary points. You may not feel anything initially when the needles are inserted. Some people report feelings of heaviness, tingling or even a sensation of movement. Once the needles are in place, you will rest for 15 to 20 minutes while the needles will do their work. The needles may or may not be electrically stimulated via a portable acupuncture stimulator. Once the needles are removed, the physiotherapist will provide you with any additional instructions before you leave.
Everyone responds to acupuncture differently. On average, majority of people do not experience pain with acupuncture. However, occasionally pain and bleeding can be caused by the insertion of acupuncture needles. Clients may also feel a sensation of dull, aching pain that generally fades away through the duration of the treatment.
Inflammation is a useful and important part of the body’s immune system. However, after an injury or with autoimmune disease, inflammation can create pain and reduced function. Acupuncture can be a safe and effective treatment for both acute and chronic inflammation. Acupuncture helps reduce inflammation by stimulating the production of cortisone (a hormone that is known to reduce inflammation) and dopamine (a natural pain killer). Acupuncture also helps manage the response of proteins (cytokines) secreted by the bodies immune system. Acupuncture has been shown to inhibit certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and increase certain anti-inflammatory cytokines creating an overall reduction in inflammation. The vasodilative (dilation of blood vessels) effects of acupuncture can also help reduce stiffness in painful joints.
Acupuncture can cause you to feel all sorts of ways. Majority of people find acupuncture
to be relaxing and enjoyable. However, occasionally you can experience some
unexpected side effects.
Potential “weird” side effects:
The goal of acupuncture in physiotherapy is to help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. As such, there are a few things you want to avoid after an acupuncture treatment. They are as follows:
Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture practitioners often recommend their patients to drink water after a treatment session as it helps rebalance the body. The belief is that the acupuncture needles stimulate the release of toxins into your system and staying adequately hydrated helps flush these toxins out. Staying hydrated is important in general health maintenance.
The same goes for any physiotherapy treatment, it is always important to listen to your body. If you feel tired and drained then yes it is absolutely important to rest and relax after acupuncture. However, if you feel re-energized and invigorated than feel free to take a nice walk or do some yoga. As mentioned above, you don’t want to perform any super strenuous exercise but most of the time some form of movement is always beneficial.
The most common side effects after acupuncture are feelings of pain relief and relaxation. However, on occasion you may come across some side-effects that are weird or unpleasant. If you experience any adverse side effect listed below, please discuss it with your physiotherapist but chances are it is completely normal and nothing to be worried about.
Acupuncture tends to have far fewer side effects than most medications that are used to
treat the same conditions. However, there are some undesirable side-effects that may
occur. They are as follows:
Depending on the type and severity of your injury or medical condition, the effects of acupuncture can last anywhere from a day or two to a couple of weeks. Some people report a decrease in pain after their first treatment, however it usually takes more than one session to completely resolve your symptoms. You may find that as your symptoms begin to improve, the acupuncture effects typically last longer and longer, allowing for less frequent acupuncture sessions.
At CuttingEdge, acupuncture is almost always combined with physical therapy treatments. As such, a typical session generally lasts around 30 minutes.
Like anything else, the number and frequency of acupuncture depends on your condition or illness and response to treatment. Generally, one to two sessions for a 6 to 8-week period is the normal course of treatment. After your initial examination, your physiotherapist will advise you on how often you should come in and the estimated length of your treatment.
