Reduce pain and promote healing with this powerful physiotherapy technique.
If you’re not familiar with acupuncture, it may be confusing to understand how the treatment can help you heal. Doesn’t it involve needles? Will it hurt?
While the thought of small needles going into your skin may sound a bit intimidating, many people find acupuncture to be surprisingly relaxing. If you’ve experienced pain, stiffness, or muscle tightness, you may benefit from acupuncture. This powerful treatment can help decrease pain and relax the body, enhancing both your physical and mental health.
Acupuncture can be incredibly beneficial for a wide range of conditions. Our team of highly experienced practitioners can help you discover if acupuncture is right for you. Contact our team at The Running Physio in Toronto, ON today!
What Exactly Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting thin, sterile needles into the skin, which are manipulated with gentle and particular movements of your practitioner’s hands. This ancient practice originated in China almost 3000 years ago and has been widely acknowledged for its impressive healing properties.
Acupuncture works to reduce inflammation, release trigger points, and ease muscle tension. It is commonly used to treat a range of conditions, such as:
- Headaches: Acupuncture can improve pain from tension headaches and migraines.
- Back and neck pain: Acupuncture can help relieve lower back pain, chronic pain, and neck pain.
- Osteoarthritis: A form of arthritis that occurs when the tissue at the ends of bones wears down.
- Tennis elbow: Damage to the tissue connecting the forearm muscle to the elbow.
- Psychological and emotional disorders: Depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia.
What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture?
It is believed that acupuncture points may stimulate the central nervous system, releasing chemical changes in our body may promote the body’s natural healing abilities and support physical and emotional well-being.
The benefits of acupuncture treatments include:
- Pain relief
- Reduced inflammation and swelling
- Tissue healing and repair
- Improved mood and energy levels
- Increased range of motion
A recent study demonstrated the effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with “frozen shoulder,” a condition that causes stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. The results determined that treatment significantly helped to improve range of motion, reduce pain, and enhance the overall quality of life in patients who received treatment.
There is also evidence that acupuncture may help relieve seasonal allergy symptoms, stress incontinence in women, and symptoms associated with cancer treatment.
What to Expect From Treatment
During treatment, your The Running Physio in Toronto, ON acupuncturist will strategically insert the tiny needles into specific trigger points in your body. You may feel some mild discomfort during an acupuncture session, although many patients don’t experience any pain.
Sessions will vary in length depending on the number of needles that your practitioner decides to use. However, an appointment shouldn’t take longer than 60 minutes. Before the session begins, your specialist will discuss the points at which needles will be inserted and the purpose behind them.
Find Relief at The Running Physio Today.
Our Toronto, ON practitioners can support you through treatment with an integrative and holistic approach that focuses on the whole body, not just the areas of pain.
Call us today to learn more about acupuncture and request an appointment!
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4104560/#:~:text=The%20ancient%20practice%20of%20acupuncture%20started%20in%20China%20approximately%203000%20years%20ago.&text=The%20first%20documentation%20of%20acupuncture,dates%20back%20to%20100%20BCE.
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/acupuncture
- https://www.physio-pedia.com/Acupuncture
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7532995/
- https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-what-you-need-to-know
