Physiotherapy Acupuncture Treatments in Kingston
Decrease pain. Stimulate healing. Discover the benefits of acupuncture.
Acupuncture – What is it?
Acupuncture had its beginnings in ancient China thousands of years ago. It was introduced in Western Europe in the 1950s and in Canada in the 1970s. Acupuncture was developed by the Chinese as part of their Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment approach. In this medical model, the insertion of needles into specific acupuncture points is considered to help balance energies or “Qi” in our bodies, helping to resolve many different types of medical conditions. Through research, we now know that the stimulation of acupuncture points by needles, electrical stimulation, manual pressure or LASER can trigger the release of pain-relieving hormones such as endorphins and have a calming effect on our nervous system.
How do Physiotherapists use Acupuncture?
At Best Health Physiotherapy our therapists combine the art and science of acupuncture with their extensive wealth of anatomical, physiological and medical knowledge. Our training has been obtained through The Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute, which has been training physiotherapists, dentists, physicians and other health professionals since 1974. Physiotherapists can only use acupuncture within their scope of practice, and in Ontario have to be “rostered” to perform this treatment technique. Under the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario rostering system, physiotherapists wishing to perform certain specialized types of treatment have to provide documentation of a recognized initial training program, plus ongoing training and experience in that particular technique.
- Acupuncture needles are sterile, single use, and made of stainless steel
- They are disposed of in a biohazard bucket following your treatment session
- Skin in the area of application is cleaned prior to treatment and the therapist washes/sanitizes their hands
- The risk of adverse effects is minimal, but there are certain situations where acupuncture should not be used - your therapist will let you know if acupuncture is not appropriate for you
- Patients are always positioned comfortably to allow access to the body part being treated. This is usually lying down
- The needles are inserted into precise locations in the body chosen based on the physiotherapist’s assessment of your condition
- These locations are traditional acupuncture points known for their specific effects on painful issues, and are chosen because they stimulate nerves associated with the painful body part
- Acupuncture needles are very fine and slide gently through body tissues
- It is normal to experience a bit of a skin prick as the needles are inserted but this is usually very mild
- It is also normal to feel a mild warmth or ache at the site of a needle while it is inserted, but this does not always occur
- Pain will decrease at least temporarily with initial treatments and overall pain levels can drop with ongoing treatment
- Pain free movement is enhanced
- Inflammation is reduced and healing is stimulated
- The body’s stress responses are reduced and sleep can be improved
Acupuncture can have a profound influence on your painful condition and initiate changes that are long lasting and often increase over time.
At Best Health Physiotherapy our goal is to make your acupuncture experience as comfortable and as beneficial as possible. Contact us or fill out the form below to book an appointment with one of our experienced acupuncture physiotherapists.
Book Your Appointment
