Acupuncture Helps Treat Chronic Pain

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in Asia to treat all kinds of medical conditions. It has more recently become recognized by Western medicine as an alternative treatment for many types of conditions. In the summer of 2000, Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto opened an acupuncture clinic to treat patients suffering with chronic pain. They report good results treating patients with whiplash, back pain, post-operative pain, headaches, osteoarthritis, and other types of pain. The National Institutes of Health in the United States and the World Health Organization also recognize that acupuncture provides benefits for many types of pain. (Canadianliving.com/health/prevention/acupuncture_does_it_work.php)

The Study

A 2012 study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine examined data from 29 random clinical trials involving nearly 18,000 individuals, to see if acupuncture had any effect on chronic pain. It was determined that acupuncture is an effective treatment for back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, and headaches. The authors concluded that “acupuncture is a reasonable referral option for patients with chronic pain”.

Burlington Sport Therapy Acupuncture

On a personal note, I added acupuncture to my practise 15 years ago. At the time, I was working with varsity athletes and noticed great results in decreasing pain and inflammation of acute sports injuries. Since starting my private practise, I have had good results treating a variety of conditions with acupuncture: back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, post-operative pain, Bell’s Palsy, headaches, and chronic tendonopathies to name a few. Fifteen years ago, most of my clients had never heard of acupuncture, but now it is well known and people will ask for it.

The Chinese theory of acupuncture is that energy flows through the body. If you have an injury, trauma or disease, energy flow gets blocked. By inserting fine needles along the acupuncture channels energy flow is restored. (See acupuncturetoday.com for a more detailed explanation of acupuncture theory and treatment).

If you have any questions about whether acupuncture can help you with your injury, please contact me at the clinic: Madeleine@burlingtonsportstherapy.com

Written by – Madeleine Hunter, CAT(C), RMT