ACUPUNCTURE AND DRY NEEDLING NOW OFFERED AT OPTIM CHIROPRACTIC TAMPA, FL

Acupuncture and dry needling are the perfect complements to chiropractic manipulation therapy, and we are excited to now offer both options at Optim Chiropractic.  If you have been looking for a non-invasive therapy to help with an old injury or chronic pain that prevents you from enjoying your favorite activities, look no further because we have got you covered.   Let’s check out some of the differences between acupuncture and dry needling and how they’re used.

WHAT IS DRY NEEDLING?

The practice of dry needling is fairly straightforward; find a location on the body with pain or a tissue abnormality and insert a needle there.  The simple act of inserting the needle into the region can bring about pain relief for many musculoskeletal complaints.  There are two general types of points used in dry needling, ashi and kori points.  An ashi point is a location on the body where the patient can pinpoint an area of pain.  A kori point is a location on the body the practitioner identifies as abnormal, either because the tissue is hypertonic or the region is tender to touch when it doesn’t hurt otherwise.

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?

Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has been used for thousands of years.  TCM is different from western medicine in that it views the body as a collection of qi, or energy.  The qi flows smoothly throughout the 14 meridians, or channels when a person is in good health.  During times of bad health, the qi can become weak, stagnant, or hyperactive in one of the meridians and cause an imbalance, which may lead to a state of disease and pain.  Instead of medicines or surgeries to treat your ailments, acupuncture uses hair-thin needles applied to strategic locations of the body to help restore balance and the natural flow of qi.

WHAT CONDITIONS CAN ACUPUNCTURE AND DRY NEEDLING TREAT?

The conditions treated by acupuncture and dry needling vary quite a bit.  The conditions treated by dry needling are mostly musculoskeletal in nature; meaning that if the cause of pain or tissue abnormality is related to muscles, tendons, ligaments, or other soft tissues… dry needling would likely be a good option to help resolve the complaint.  Acupuncture on the other hand can be used on a wide variety of common conditions, as well as many symptoms associated with diseases or their western medicine treatments.  Rather than treating the condition or symptoms directly, acupuncture treatments focus on bringing balance back to the body’s qi, which in turn helps the body’s natural ability to resolve the symptoms. 

HOW LONG DOES THE TREATMENT LAST?

The typical treatment time needed for acupuncture or dry needling is about 20 minutes.  The first few minutes of each appointment will be used by the doctor to get an update on your condition, then the actual needle therapy will last about 20 minutes.  During the 20-minute treatment, you will lay on a comfortable table and relax under the warm rays of infrared light.  After the 20 minutes have passed the doctor will return and painlessly remove each of the needles in a matter of seconds.

ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS TO ACUPUNCTURE AND DRY NEEDLING?

Acupuncture and dry needling have very few side effects so they are treatments that can be used on almost anyone.  Some of the few limitations include those with a pacemaker, seizure disorder, and with a bleeding disorder.  Acupuncture and dry needling are safe enough to use in combination with other western medicine treatments that have debilitating side effects of their own, like chemotherapy and radiation therapy.  You can even combine chiropractic treatment with either acupuncture or dry needling treatment.  Combining chiropractic and needle therapy may help treat the symptoms of your condition more than using either treatment method individually.    

Find out how the acupuncture-certified doctors at Optim Chiropractic can help you achieve optimal performance without the use of surgeries or prescription medications. Call us at 813-475-4150 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation or book your first acupuncture, dry needling, or chiropractic appointment.