Our Services
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient traditional Chinese medicine practice involving the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body. This technique stimulates pressure points to enhance the flow of blood and vital essence, known as Qi, promoting balance, relaxation, and overall health. The effects include a decrease in pain and stress, with additional benefits such as improved well-being.
To understand how acupuncture works, it’s essential to delve into the nervous system’s role. As the central regulator of bodily functions, the nervous system influences everything from breathing and temperature control to muscle movement and environmental responses.
Acupuncture’s impact begins with its effect on the nervous system. By strategically stimulating pressure points, the brain initiates an acute healing response. This leads to the release of endorphins, reducing pain, facilitating the flow of oxygenated blood to dispel inflammation, and inducing brain waves similar to those in meditation. This process shifts the body away from the fight-or-flight stress response.
In the absence of pain or swelling, acupuncture trains the brain to perceive the absence of issues, promoting a state of calmness. The connection between a tranquil mind and a calm body underscores the holistic benefits of acupuncture.
First-time Acupuncture
During your 60-minute initial acupuncture session, we will begin with a comprehensive medical history intake, physical examination and muscle tests. This is followed by your first acupuncture treatment, with the option to add any of the additional modalities listed below. Together, we will discuss and determine the most suitable ongoing course of treatment tailored to your specific needs.
Acupuncture
60-minute Session
The 60-minute acupuncture session provides your acupuncturist with ample time to address multiple areas and incorporate additional modalities like massage, laser, and cupping. This extended session is ideal for a comprehensive treatment approach.
Acupuncture
45-minute Session
The 45-minute acupuncture session is well-suited for follow-up appointments or focusing specifically on one area of the body, allowing for targeted and efficient care.
Sports Acupuncture
Sports acupuncture stands as a specialized branch within acupuncture, specifically designed to address sports-related injuries and elevate athletic performance. This approach seamlessly integrates traditional Chinese medicine principles with contemporary sports medicine techniques.
Sports acupuncture can address an array of conditions, including muscle strains, sprains, chronic pain, tendonitis, and joint pain. By activating the body’s natural healing response and calming influence on the nervous system, acupuncture becomes a valuable tool in mitigating inflammation, alleviating pain, and facilitating tissue repair. Beyond injury management, sports acupuncture is also employed for preventive measures and performance enhancement.
Dry Needling
Dry needling is a technique used by acupuncturists, Sports Medicine doctors and healthcare professionals to treat muscle pain and dysfunction. It involves inserting thin needles to target muscular trigger points, motor points (points where the nerve intervenes the muscle) and tight bands of muscle to stimulate acute or “good” inflammation to promote a healing response and to relax tight and stiff muscles. This technique is good for acute or chronic pain and relax muscle tissue.
Sports Massage
Sports medicine massage is a specialized form of massage therapy that focuses on addressing the specific needs of athletes and active individuals. Specific techniques are used such as deep tissue massage, stretching, and joint mobilization to target areas of tension, improve flexibility, and promote circulation.
Cupping
Cupping is an ancient therapy that involves placing cups on the skin to increase blood flow, relax muscles, and promote healing. When muscles are really tight, blood does not flow through the body well, causing muscle tension, knots, pain and a decrease of strength and range of motion.
How does cupping work?
By creating a vacuum effect, which pulls the underlying tissues upward, cupping can move the stagnant blood up to the surface of the skin and also create an avenue for oxygenated blood to the muscle. This process helps to relieve muscle tension, scar tissue, improve circulation, and reduce pain. Bruising does occur as a result of cupping and can last up to five days. The bruising triggers the healing effects of the brain that want to heal that area. Cupping is often used for pain relief, acute or chronic pain, relaxation, better lung and digestive functions, and improve overall well-being.
Cold Laser Therapy
A Class III cold laser, often referred to as a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) device, operates by emitting low-intensity laser light to stimulate cellular function and facilitate healing within the body. The laser light penetrates the skin, stimulates the mitochondria in the cells and trigger’s a wide range of biological effects. These effects include increased blood flow, decreased inflammation and swelling, and enhanced tissue healing.
This therapeutic approach finds common application in healthcare and wellness settings for the management of pain, treatment of fractures, alleviation of tendonitis and arthritis symptoms, relief from muscle tension and knots, as well as promoting wound healing, reducing swelling and inflammation.