What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the practice of penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles which are then activated through gentle and specific movements of the practitioner's hands or with electrical stimulation. Acupuncture is part of the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe the human body has more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected by pathways or meridians. These pathways create an energy flow (Qi, pronounced "chee") through the body that is responsible for overall health. Disruption of the energy flow can cause disease. By applying acupuncture to certain points, it is thought to improve the flow of Qi, thereby improving health. Studies have shown that acupuncture is effective for a variety of conditions.

 

How does acupuncture affect the body?

Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system. This, in turn, releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes may stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies have shown that acupuncture is an effective treatment alone or in combination with conventional therapies to treat the following:

Nausea caused by surgical anesthesia and cancer chemotherapy, Dental pain after surgery, Addiction, Headaches, Menstrual cramps, Tennis elbow, Fibromyalgia, Myofascial pain, Osteoarthritis, Low back pain, Carpal tunnel syndrome, and Asthma.

Ultrasonic Therapy

Ultrasonic therapy or diathermy products used in physiotherapy equipment produce high-frequency sound waves that travel deep into tissue and create gentle therapeutic heat. Ultrasonic diathermy is intended to generate deep heat within body tissues for the treatment of selected medical conditions such as pain, muscle spasms and joint contractures.

The sound waves are transmitted through a round-headed wand that the therapist applies to the skin with gentle, circular movements. 

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)

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Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy uses electromagnetic fields in an attempt to heal non-union fractures and related issue. In the United States, PEMF exposure is an FDA-approved treatment of fracture nonunion. There is considerable clinical evidence to support the use of PEMF for fracture nonunion with reported healing rates for nonunion after PEMF stimulation between 73% and 85%.

What is chiropractic medicine?

Chiropractic medicine is based on the link between the alignment of the spine and the function of the body. A core tenant of chiropractic medicine is the belief that the body has the ability to heal itself if given proper support. The word chiropractic comes from the Greek words cheir and praxis meaning "hand" and "practice". The words refer to treatment done by the hands or hands-on therapy.

With use of manual manipulation of the spine, chiropractors can improve a person's health without surgery or medicine.  

Treatment may involve lying on your stomach on a special table, while the chiropractor uses his or her hands and elbows to realign the spine.

Chiropractic treatments have proven to be effective in treating certain lower back pain symptoms and muscle and other bone pains.

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)

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How LLLT works
Low-level laser therapy traces its history back to the early 1960's when researchers discovered that laser light could stimulate a response at the cellular level of tissues in the body, resulting in increased energy levels (ATP, adenosine triphosphate). This increase in energy enables the body's cells to metabolize at a higher rate and speeds its natural ability to heal. In short, the body converts the laser light into a form of energy that it can use (biochemical energy) to repair itself and function at a higher efficiency level. This process is similar to the human body using the sun's energy to manufacture Vitamin D.

 

FDA approved
Researchers have since experimented over the decades to find out which intensities and wavelengths of light work best to promote healing in the body. Laser therapy has been successfully utilized in Europe, Asia, and Canada for years. In 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of low-level laser therapy for use in the United States.

 

How low-level laser therapy is used
Low-level laser therapy has almost endless applications because of its approach to healing. Its low intensity does not burn or cut tissue like high-powered surgical lasers and there are no known side effects in its over 40-year history of use. Laser therapy is effective in treating many conditions that are prominent today, such as chronic arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and sports injuries just to name a few. Many professional athletes utilize laser therapy to reduce healing time to get them back into the game with less chance of re-injury. Countless other people are reaping the benefits of laser therapy by eliminating their dependence on pain medications, avoiding surgery, decreasing or eliminating pain, and returning to a healthier lifestyle.