Is chronic pain slowing you down?
Give acupuncture a try!
Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehabilitation in Oakville, ON is happy to provide acupuncture services to our patients.
Acupuncture is a precise peripheral nerve stimulation technique, used in physiotherapy and chiropractic, in which fine solid needles (acupuncture needles) are inserted into anatomically defined neurofunctional sites. They can be stimulated manually or with electricity for the therapeutic purpose of modulating abnormal activity of the nervous system, or other systems, in people with pain syndromes, functional problems, and any diseases in which these modulatory mechanisms are available. Neuromodulation occurs through neurological and neurohumoral mechanisms at multiple levels, namely the peripheral nerves, spinal cord, brain stem, brain and cerebellum.
In contrast to acupuncture performed by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, westernized acupuncture is mechanism-based, not disease-based. Therapeutic goals and treatment targets are selected based on the identified neurological dysfunctions contributing to the clinical presentation of the symptoms.
One highly effective use for acupuncture is the treatment of muscle tension. There are many reasons as to why muscle tension may become a personal health issue. In some situations, muscle tension will develop after extreme bouts of emotional stress, but other causes are more physical in nature. A sports injury or a car accident can cause a muscle to become tense, especially following a larger injury. Other times, sustained postures or improper loading of muscles and joints can cause muscle tension to develop. This includes regular lifting, typing, and other household tasks.
While an especially common complaint in the lower back and neck, muscle tension can develop anywhere. Too many people attempt to turn to medicinal pain management to ease tension in the muscles, but this is not a long-term solution, and many pain management medications have unpleasant side effects that make taking them long-term unwise or even impossible.
Muscle tightness is something of a vicious cycle. It both causes pain on its own, and further results in other parts of the body tensing up in anticipation of that pain. Many patients find acupuncture helpful for both decreasing pain and relaxing the body overall. Working with an Oakville, ON physiotherapist to address muscle tension is the most effective way to take long-term action in overcoming this concern.
Understanding Acupuncture
Perhaps because it has ancient roots in Eastern medicine, acupuncture is often looked at as a pseudoscience, with semi-majestic connotations that question the authority and effectiveness of the treatment method. The mechanisms through which acupuncture work are still not quite understood, but it’s hypothesized that it is through some up-regulation and down-regulation of specific cellular processes. It stimulates natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body, including a combination of endorphins and neurotransmitters. The release of these chemicals triggers the pain receptors in the brain to experience less pain. By releasing natural painkillers in the body, acupuncture needles help short-circuit the loop of pain, and stiffness from anticipating pain.
Contact us today
Acupuncture is an effective method for alleviating chronic pain that results from muscle tension, especially when it is combined with a home exercise program. But it is not something that can be practiced at home or without a licensed and experienced acupuncturist. So contact Leaps and Bounds: Performance Rehabilitation for an appointment with our chiropractor, Dr. Brittany Boot, and find out how this form of treatment may be able to support your optimal wellbeing.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
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Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!