Table of contents
What is orthopedic acupuncture?
How does orthopedic acupuncture affect the body?
Who can have orthopedic acupuncture?
How many orthopedic acupuncture sessions should you need?
Are there side effects to orthopedic acupuncture?
Acupuncture can provide a wide array of benefits to your body, such as relieving pain, speeding up recovery, and reducing stress. But sometimes you need a more specialized treatment to cater to your symptoms.
If you’re suffering from musculoskeletal conditions, orthopedic acupuncture may be a more suitable treatment method for you. It entails inserting needles throughout your body, mainly targeting your bones and joints. If you want to know more about how it could help minimize your symptoms, you can read more below.
What is orthopedic acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that focuses on balancing your body’s flow of energy. It stimulates your central nervous system to reduce pain and activate your body’s natural healing abilities.
Orthopedic acupuncture is an acupuncture specialization that fuses its traditional method with myofascial treatment. It focuses on healing medical conditions that involve your bones, joints, muscles, or connective tissues.
Its main goal is to restore your mobility by correcting any imbalances in your musculoskeletal system – whether you got them from injuries, surgeries, chronic or acute pain.
Similar to traditional acupuncture, your acupuncturist will insert needles into the trigger points of your target area to release tension and improve blood flow. It also activates endorphin production, which is why you feel less pain since it’s your body’s natural painkiller.
How does orthopedic acupuncture affect the body?
Orthopedic acupuncture is great for treating musculoskeletal pain or conditions, such as:
- Muscle sprain or strain
- Torn ligaments
- Nerve pain
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Sciatica
- Poor posture
- Joint or muscle pain
- Tendonitis
- Thoracic disc pain
- Degenerative disc conditions
A study also shows it’s the most cost-effective treatment for low back pain, osteoarthritis, shoulder pain, tension headache, and migraine.
It’s a safe and non-invasive treatment for relieving pain and minimizing your symptoms since it doesn’t involve surgery or medication. You can also use it as a supplementary treatment alongside physical therapy, massage, or chiropractic treatments.
Who can have orthopedic acupuncture?
If you’re suffering from any of the medical conditions above, make sure to consult with your doctor to ensure orthopedic acupuncture is beneficial for your treatment – especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, or taking medications to prevent further complications.
But if you have a metal allergy, bleeding disorder, or taking anticoagulant medications, this treatment may not be suitable for you.
If you have a pacemaker, avoid acupuncture treatments that apply electric pulses to the needles as it interferes with your unit’s function. Also, let your acupuncturist know if you have breast implants so they can avoid the area.
What to expect on your first acupuncture session
In your first session, your acupuncturist will evaluate your musculoskeletal condition by gathering your medical history. They’ll then do a physical examination to identify the source of the imbalances in your musculoskeletal system.
Based on this assessment, they’ll create a personalized treatment plan to reduce inflammation, restore function, and promote healing.
During your acupuncture session, your acupuncturist will insert needles at your trigger points to start your treatment. When done properly, the needles shouldn’t hurt, but you might feel a slight tingling sensation.
Depending on your case, the needles are left on your body between 5 minutes to an hour. You’ll feel calm and relaxed at this point due to the meditative state that acupuncture can provide.
How many orthopedic acupuncture sessions should you need?
The duration of your orthopedic acupuncture treatment will depend on the severity of your symptoms and the way your body reacts to the method. Discuss your treatment plan with your acupuncturist so you’ll know what to expect.
Mild symptoms typically need 1 to 2 sessions a week, while more extreme cases will need more. Once you see some improvements in your condition, you’ll be able to schedule your sessions farther apart.
But if you don’t feel any positive changes after a few orthopedic acupuncture sessions, you might want to consider trying other treatment methods.
Are there side effects to orthopedic acupuncture?
Acupuncture complications are usually a result of using nonsterile needles and improper practice. As long as you go to a reputable clinic with board-certified acupuncturists, orthopedic acupuncture shouldn’t provide any serious side effects.
Some may experience bruising and soreness in areas where the needles are inserted, but these should fade away after a few days. You may also feel faint or dizzy after your session, so remember to drink plenty of water and take it easy for the rest of the day.
Book your first orthopedic acupuncture treatment
If you’re suffering from musculoskeletal injuries or diseases, talk to your doctor about whether orthopedic acupuncture can benefit your condition.
Its process is similar to traditional acupuncture, but it mainly focuses on treating bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissues.
For a reputable clinic, book your treatment at Lycoming Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture. They have licensed professionals specializing in pain management and sports therapy to help you reduce your symptoms.
Image by Maksim Goncharenok from Pexels
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