Why You Should Add Acupuncture to Your Wellness Routine
It’s been around for centuries, but what does acupuncture really do, and how can it best serve you? Our physiotherapist Tiffany can now offer Acupuncture in her Physiotherapy treatments so that she can offer a more comprehensive approach to treating her patients. “The more I read and learned about it, the more interested I was. It can treat so many different things,” she said.
With Tiffany’s help, we explain why regular acupuncture treatments can be key to treating acute and chronic illnesses.
What does acupuncture actually do?
By stimulating muscles, nerves, joints, and internal systems with one-use needles, acupuncture can treat acute conditions, like recent ankle, knee, shoulder, or neck injuries, and also chronic conditions, like lower back pain, constant headaches, or general stress.
It differs from IMS (or dry needling), in that the points where the needles are inserted vary and stay in for longer periods of time. IMS needles are usually only left in for a matter of seconds, whereas acupuncture needles can be left in for minutes to hours, allowing them to target more than just muscles.
What you may have heard about acupuncture, that may not be true
There can be a lot of misconceptions about naturopathic forms of healing, and Tiffany lays out the ones she’s heard about acupuncture.
Acupuncture is painful: There can be some sensitive points in the body, but rest assured that once the needle is in, all sensitivity subsides.
Acupuncture is a one-hit-wonder: Depending on the injury and the individual, it can take more than a session or two for acupuncture to have an effect.
Acupuncture is an ancient folk medicine: With many people living with chronic pain, continuing research around the evidence of acupuncture decreasing said pain has led to doctors prescribing it instead of opioids.
Why physiotherapy and acupuncture can work hand in hand
As a physiotherapist and an acupuncturist, Tiffany notes that acupuncture can work great alongside physiotherapy treatments, as it can be a gentler method for some more painful areas, targeting muscles and joints that could be difficult to otherwise reach.
During a physiotherapy session, Tiffany assesses a patient’s injury, often using acupuncture as a treatment tool alongside other methods such as manual therapy, rehabilitation exercises, and education to help decrease pain and correct any movement dysfunction.
And she recommends patients don’t stop their recovery once they leave the treatment room. “Motion is lotion! Regular, daily exercise is key to keeping healthy, and feeling great,” she said.
If you’re experiencing any acute or chronic pain, physiotherapy and acupuncture could be just what you need to begin your path to feeling better. Book an appointment today.