By WIN Provider: Dr. Conner Overstrom
What is Acupuncture?
Have you wondered how acupuncture and chiropractic can be combined in your plan?
Acupuncture initially began as an ancient Chinese medicine technique using very thin needles inserted in strategic points in the body.
Traditional Chinese medicine uses the technique to balance the flow of energy or life force known as chi which was believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in the body.
What is neurofunctional acupuncture
Neurofunctional acupuncture is the acupuncture technique that all WIN practitioners use as an adjunctive treatment.
Neurofuctional acupuncture does not focus solely on an area of pain, but instead target a specific level of dysfunction that’s associated with the pain problem.
These targets may be neurological, biomechanical, muscular, metabolic, and psychoemotional.
After a thorough neurofunctional assessment we will develop a blueprint as to what levels and area’s we want to target with acupuncture, to not only treat the pain problem but various other aspects that come along with it.
Needles will be inserted in a specific anatomical location depending on what our target it.
These targets are often muscle, joint, tendon, as well as following path of specific nerves.
These needles are then stimulated with an electrical current to further stimulate the area of the tissue.
After the application of neurofuctional acupuncture treatment there is often a transient change in the targeted area allowing the injured area to be put through a rehabilitation program.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture should not hurt.
All WIN practitioners have been trained for multiple hours on a “painless needling technique”.
The patient may still feel a bit of a prick or an ache when the needle is first inserted, but this feeling should pass.
If the feeling does not pass the practitioner can either move the needle, or remove the needle.
So, overall the needling should be painless, but if there is a sensation this sensation should be very short lived.
To have a comprehensive treatment that includes chiropractic and acupuncture, visit our WIN Chiropractors!