Have you ever been curious about acupuncture? In addition to offering chiropractic care at all our northern Virginia RxWellness locations, our newly opened Arlington, VA location is now offering acupuncture treatment!
Acupuncture treatment often complements chiropractic care to stimulate muscles and nerves that may be causing pain or discomfort in the body. There are many combined benefits of acupuncture and chiropractic care when used to reduce pain or alleviate discomfort.
Some people are initially wary of acupuncture, and even chiropractic, due to their unfamiliarity with the two treatments. Chiropractic care has been used to treat pain and injuries for hundreds of years and acupuncture has been studied and practiced for over 2,500 years. Both treatments are used to safely treat pain and alleviate symptoms of various injuries and chronic conditions.
Learn about the benefits of acupuncture and chiropractic care when used in conjunction to help heal the body naturally.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used in traditional Chinese treatment for thousands of years and involves inserting very thin needles into the body to promote wellness.
While the traditional use of this treatment is based on the belief that it balances the life force of a person, western medicine has found that acupuncture stimulates muscles, nerves, and connective tissue. The treatment can also boost the body’s natural painkillers– leaving individuals less likely to experience aches and pains.
Acupuncture needles are gently inserted into the skin to rest for anywhere between 10-30 minutes, resulting in a tiny injury. The needles are so small that they cause little to no discomfort, but the body senses the needle and signals to the immune system to respond. As part of an immune response, the body promotes increased circulation to the area, along with pain modulation and wound healing.
Acupuncture Vs Dry Needling
Acupuncture is different from dry needling, which is a practice focused on administering strong stimulation to the muscles vis the same small needle implements to get them to release.
RxWellness Spine & Health offers acupuncture in addition to dry needling treatment. If you aren’t sure which treatment is best for your situation, it’s best to come in for a consultation to learn which would provide the best results for your body and pain.
Acupuncture Procedure
Your initial acupuncture visit, the acupuncture examination and treatment will last up to 60 minutes and is typically followed up with shorter 30-minutes sessions once or twice per week.
Treatment time varies depending on the severity of your pain and the condition being treated. Most patients can expect to receive between six and eight acupuncture treatments to promote healing and reduce their general level of pain.
It might seem counterintuitive to use the needles in acupuncture treatment to reduce pain, but the needles used are extremely thin and cause very little discomfort when inserted into the skin. Many patients do not feel them inserted at all, although they may experience a dull ache afterwards.
While every case is different, the number of needles inserted is usually between 5-20, depending on the area of the body. Patients lay down and relax for 10-20 minutes after the needles are inserted and then they are gently removed.
There is usually not any pain or discomfort when the acupuncture needles are taken out, and patients often find the entire experience to be very calming.
Acupuncture Benefits
Acupuncture stimulates nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. It can even boost your body’s natural pain killers. By creating small “injuries” acupuncture jump starts an immune response in the body to provide pain relief and healing.
Acupuncture isn’t a miracle cure or even a one-size fits all treatment. The location, depth, and size of the acupuncture needles vary depending on the patient’s pain or the condition being treated. That being said, many patients swear by the results they have experienced from acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture can treat and help with the symptoms of a variety of ailments. Here are some of the benefits of acupuncture and chiropractic care when used in conjunction to treat pain or injury:
- Allergies
- Anxiety & Depression
- Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Chronic Pain, Often in the Neck, Back, Knees, And Head
- Dental Pain
- Hypertension
- Inflammation/Irritation
- Insomnia
- Menstrual Cramps and PMS
- Muscular Pain
- Neck & Cervical Spine Pain
- Headaches & Chronic Migraines
- Morning Sickness
- Sprains
- Strokes
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is a non-surgical, drug-free approach to treating back pain caused by muscle strain, disc problems, arthritis, and other skeletal irregularities.
Hands-on manipulations and adjustments to the body, especially the joints and spine, offer a way to relieve pain and improve natural function.
Through manual alignment and adjustments, bracing, massage, and other complimentary treatments, chiropractors align the musculoskeletal system to right the body and speed up its natural process of healing. Chiropractic treatment is especially useful for relieving pain and injuries associated with low back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, and other spinal conditions.
Regular chiropractic adjustments are beneficial for those suffering from chronic conditions, especially those that effect or can weaken the spine. Since adjustments increase blood flow which carries oxygen to internal systems, the improved circulation can facilitate healing by reducing inflammation and swelling.
Chiropractic Care Benefits
Chiropractic care can benefit everyone, from young children to the elderly. Many people are familiar with the concept of chiropractic care, but don’t know the true range of benefits the practice offers.
In addition to pain relief, chiropractic promotes better health and overall wellness. Our skilled chiropractic care team consists of not only chiropractors, but also includes massage therapists, acupuncture experts, physical therapists, and more.
These complimentary therapies produce results that can:
- Reduce inflammation
- Expedite healing
- Alleviate pain
- Prevent injuries
- Prevent neuromuscular disorders
Chiropractic care offers physical benefits and is also a great way to start leading a healthier lifestyle. Feeling physically better is just one of the major benefits of acupuncture and chiropractic care.
Your First Visit
During your first visit to RxWellness Spine & Health, you will have a health consultation with one of our skilled doctors to discuss your condition or health related problem. This initial visit is so that our doctors can learn more about you and your condition, along with coming up with a treatment plan and a solution to help you meet your goals.
After the initial consultation, your doctor will perform a complete chiropractic exam, which may include standard neurological, orthopedic, postural, and physical tests. We also can perform X-rays in office and may do so if needed to assess your condition.
Once your exam and any test results are complete, your doctor will go over your results with you and explain what they mean. They will also provide treatment suggestions and may even offer to provide an initial round of treatment in-office during of your visit, if time permits.
Finally, your doctor will suggest a follow up visit to determine the effectiveness of treatment and review your progress.
Make an Appointment
Try Chiropractic Care or Acupuncture for the first time or treat a recent injury or reoccurring pain. Contact RxWellness Spine & Health in Arlington to book an appointment and experience the benefits of acupuncture and chiropractic care for the first time! Call us today at 703-904-9666