Medical Acupuncture for Back Pain

Medical Acupuncture by Licensed Physical Therapists

What is old is new again!  Acupuncture is an ancient health treatment approach that is making a remarkable comeback in modern times. And it’s a great option for treating chronic back pain.

What is Medical Acupuncture?

Capilano’s acupuncture providers are physical therapists certified in Medical Acupuncture. Medical acupuncture is a modern treatment approach founded in concepts of neurology, anatomy and physiology.

Similar to traditional Chinese acupuncture, medical acupuncture involves the strategic placement of sterile needles into various locations in the body.

The major difference between the two forms of acupuncture is that medical acupuncture often uses the selection of acupuncture points based both on the traditional Chinese approach as well as including points that are anatomically and neurologically connected to your specific source of pain.

Medical acupuncture is commonly used by medical doctors and physiotherapists in the treatment of chronic pain, or as an adjunct to their regular treatment regime.

The Effects of Acupuncture?

Contemporary research recognizes that medical acupuncture can block pain, induce the body’s release of natural painkillers to reduce pain, and also positively enhance a general sense of health and well-being. 

Positive Results

Recent research has found acupuncture to have positive results in the treatment of chronic low back pain, knee osteoarthritis, and management of chronic pain conditions.

Other musculoskeletal conditions that Capilano health practitioners commonly treat with medical acupuncture include:

• tendinosis
• rotator cuff injuries
• muscle strains
• joint sprains
• headaches
• repetitive strain injuries

As previously mentioned, medical acupuncture helps to restore your body’s natural nerve and muscle tone, increases blood flow and can provide pain relief for chronic conditions.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Typically, treatments last about 20-30 minutes and the number of needles used in a treatment will vary according to the individual, duration of pain and the condition being treated. An improvement of 15% to 20% in pain sensation can be experienced after the first treatment. In general, further improvement follows within a few days; however, the effects of this technique can also be immediate. Repeated treatments are necessary to see full pain relief in most cases.

Acupuncture Costs?

Acupuncture is not covered by Alberta Health or the Capital Health Authority.  You may be eligible to be reimbursed by your private insurance plan.

Is Medical Acupuncture Painful?

Typically acupuncture treatment is a pain-free experience.  However, everybody has a different and unique response to acupuncture.  Some people may have a heightened sympathetic response to needles which results in the sensation of light headedness, fatigue and occasional sweating. The majority of the thin filament needles are imperceptible when placed in the body.  At most, you may feel the needle to be like a mosquito bite.  There can be some further tightness being related to the tightness of the tissue the needle is in.

Furthermore, for a completely successful outcome, the point to be treated could be the one that reproduces the referred pain.  This means that the needle placement could partially recreate the problem pain sensation via an autonomic or somatic segmental response. While undesirable, it is necessary to target the source of the pain in order to fully resolve musculoskeletal conditions.

However, the end result of pain resolution is always worth the slight discomfort one might experience during the course of treatment.

Appointments are Available

Call us today at 780-466-1104 to schedule your acupuncture and let our modern treatments and old-fashioned care help you wake up to pain free living!

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