More Back Pain Relief From Acupuncture Than Conventional Treatment

Patients Report More Back Pain Relief From Acupuncture Than Conventional Treatment by WebMD

1. Go to: http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20070924/study-acupuncture-eases-low-back-pain

2. WebMd can't explain why it works, but we can. 

3. We use Sports Medicine Acupuncture at New Dimensions. We use a posture grid to check for postural deviations that might be the cause of low back pain. We then conduct manual muscle testing to see which of the muscles are out of balance. Then we use the Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue and pulse diagnosis.

We then treat using Matt Callison's Hua Tuo Arc principle to correct postural deviations, muscle imbalances and treat the patient's constitutionally (ie., If Liver Qi Stagnation is the Chinese diagnosis - we move Liver Qi Stagnation).

Use use the Hua Tuo points for the spinal nerve roots that innervate the muscle that is out of balance, or has a trigger point. Then we treat the motor point of that muscle. Then we treat the motor point for the antagonist muscle(s). This is the Hua Tuo arc.

We then use Tui Na body work, PNF stretching, and then teach the patient the corrective exercises necessary to keep the muscles in balance.

4. The nervous system is the body's internal communication system. It operates on the homeostatic and positive and negative feedback principles.

The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) are constantly sending signals to the body regarding autonomic and somatic system information. The brain needs to know insulin levels, blood pressure readings, etc. to keep the body in a normal state (homeostasis). An example is keeping the body temperature at or near 98 degrees. The body will respond to higher or lower temperatures by sweating or shivering.

Acupuncture uses this communication system also. The 4,000 year clinical trial that is Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine has charted the body's feedback system using needles place in the integumentary (skin) system that sends signals through the central nervous system to correct homeostatic imbalances.

We know that LI4 (Hegu) acupuncture point is considered one of the most effective points for general pain control, especially in the upper half of the body. It is indicated for Chinese traditional medical conditions such as headache, sinusitis, myofacial pain, toothache, and TMJ dysfunction.

5. Low Back Pain - we may be treating the lower leg, upper leg and gluteus area to correct the shoulder in order to relieve the low back pain.

The acupuncture point prescription will be different for each patient based of their root cause of the back pain.

The frequency and duration of the treatments will also depend on the individual diagnosis. However, the patient should feel relief after the first treatment. How long that lasts will depend on what condition the patient showed with, how the patient responds to acupuncture, how compliant they are with doing their corrective exercises, and what type of activities they engage in post treatment.

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Disclaimer: This blog and information herein is provided for informational purposes only. It is not designed to diagnose, treat, or cure any problem. You should contact your physician for further information, diagnosis,and/or testing discussed in this blog. Sports Medicine Acupuncture will then treat after these steps are taken.

Sports Medicine Acupuncture Can Help Carpal Tunnel

"Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the fingers or hands, particularly the thumb, index, middle, or ring fingers. Loss of sensation in the fingers and weakness in the hands can also occur.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive finger and hand use (especially with improper positioning). A nerve called the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel, the narrow passageway of bones and ligaments on the underside of the wrist.

Conditions such as obesity, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, arthritis, and diabetes can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome.

Acupuncture

Acupuncturists insert thin needles into specifics point on the body. Traditional theory holds blockages along energy pathways in the body, called meridians, can cause pain. Acupuncture releases these blockages and improves the flow of energy along meridians.
A scientific explanation is that acupuncture may release natural pain-relieving chemicals into the body, promote circulation in body, and balance the nervous system.
What is a treatment like? For carpal tunnel syndrome, acupuncture points are generally on the wrist, arm, thumb, and hands, as well as other parts of the body such as the upper back, neck, and leg.
The number of acupuncture sessions depends on various factors such as how long you've had the symptoms, symptom intensity, how much you use your arms and hands, and your overall health." - - http://bit.ly/aipt5j

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SPORTS MEDICINE ACUPUNCTURE:

1. Chinese Diagnosis, acupuncture, e-stim, cupping and elastic taping treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome done at our clinic.

2. You'll also receive proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching and corrective exercises.

3. Call for an appointment - (623) 581 - 3000.

New Dimensions Acupuncture 814 E. Union Hills Dr., Ste. #10-C Phoenix, AZ 85024

North East Corner of 7th Street & Union Hills
(One block south of the 101; take the 7th St. Exit)

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Disclaimer: This blog and information herein is provided for informational purposes only. It is not designed to diagnose, treat, or cure any problem. You should contact your physician for further information, diagnosis,and/or testing discussed in this blog. Sports Medicine Acupuncture will then treat after these steps are taken.

Hamstring Injuries

Hamstring Injuries
These are the muscles on the back of the leg. The most common injury is a strain (an injury to a muscle or a tendon that tears due to overstretching) or usually called a "pulled hamstring." (Sprains are what happen to ligament)

There are three muscles that make up the hamstrings:
1. Biceps Femoris
2. Semitendinosus
3. Semimembranosus

The injury occurs in sports that require sprinting with quick stopping and starting movements, such as, basketball, football, tennis, soccer, hockey, etc.
Signs and symptoms of a hamstring injury include:

• A sudden, sharp pain in the back of your thigh during an activity
• A popping or tearing sensation in the muscle
• Swelling and tenderness within a few hours of the injury
• Bruising or discoloration along the back of your leg
• Muscle weakness or inability to put weight on your injured leg

What to do first:

1. "Use crutches or some form of support to assist walking, immediately apply ice to the area, using some form of compression, such as an ACE bandage to hold the ice in place, for at least 20-30 minutes.
2. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Avoid further injury to the muscle. You should be seen by a doctor or trainer within the first 24-48 hours after a severe injury of this type.
3. Avoid aspirin and the aspirin-like anti-inflammatory medications during the very early stage of injury (6-12 hours), as there is often a moderate amount of bleeding around the injured/tom muscle and this may be worsened by taking these medicines immediately after the injury.
4. Continue to use cyclic ice therapy, every 2-4 hours for the first 3-7 days after the injury.
5. Continue to use the crutches and allow the injured muscle to begin healing for at least one week.
6. Even if the pain is much better within that first week, avoid any recurrent stress, such as running, to the muscle, as the muscle is greatly weakened and relapse is very common."

--- http://www.algj.com/hamstring-injuries.html

How Sports Medicine Acupuncture Treats Hamstring Imbalances:

*Note - we still treat you even during the acute phase of injury..... please see your orthopedic doctor, ER treatment or your team doctor first.

1. Assessment: We conduct full postural deviation tests, manual muscle testing, orthopedic testing and traditional Chinese tongue and pulse diagnosis.

2. Treat using the SMAC (Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification - Matt Callison) acupuncture protocol. The treatment will be acupuncture, soft tissue release, external Chinese herbal treatment and rehabilitative exercises.

3. This allows us to make sure that the entire kinetic chain (the body's nerves, muscles, and skeleton that are connected by joints so that the segments operate together) is in proper alignment.

4. Acupuncture is based on how each individual "presents" with their signs and symptoms. The idea is to not only work on the hamstring muscle imbalances and/or postural deviations, but also on the channels or meridians that are affected and correcting those.

Call for a postural evaluation - (623) 581-3300.
We're located at the N.E. Corner of 7th St. & Union Hills.
Phoenix, AZ 85024

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Disclaimer: This blog and information herein is provided for informational purposes only. It is not designed to diagnose, treat, or cure any problem. You should contact your physician for further information, diagnosis,and/or testing discussed in this blog. Sports Medicine Acupuncture will then treat after these steps are taken.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis

Happens to runners, basketball players, and is the one of the most common foot injuries for the general population.

The plantar fascia is a strong, fibrous tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes and creates the arch of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of this tissue. Please note that heel spurs may or may not accompany plantar fasciitis. The treatment will be different if a bone spur is present. This is the treatment for plantar fasciitis itself.


How Sports Medicine Acupuncture Treats Plantar Fasciitis:
1. Work directly with the athlete and/or their podiatrist.

2. Assessment: The most common complaint is pain and stiffness in the bottom of the heel. The heel pain may be dull or sharp. The bottom of the foot may also ache or burn.
The pain is usually worse: in the morning when you take your first steps out of bed; pain upon palpation of the medial process of the calcaneus; after standing or sitting for a while; when climbing stairs; while walking on the tiptoes; and/or after intense activity.
Other risk factors include foot arch problems, tight achilles tendon(s), and/or sudden weight gain.
3. Start focusing on diagnosis. Check for any accompanying heel spurs and differentiate between plantar fasciitis and flexor hallucis longus tendinopathy.

4. Use the SMAC (Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification - Matt Callison) acupuncture protocol. The treatment will be acupuncture, soft tissue release, external Chinese herbal treatment and rehabilitative exercises.

Acupuncture is based on how each individual "presents" with their signs and symptoms. The idea is to not only work on the plantar fasciitis itself, but also on the channels or meridians that are affected and correcting those.

We also conduct full postural deviation tests, manual muscle testing, orthopedic testing and traditional Chinese tongue and pulse diagnosis.

5. Will recommend wearing shoes with good support and cushions. We recommend the "Runner's Den" for buying good running shoes.

6. Will recommend talking with your podiatrist for heel cups, felt pads in the heel area, or shoe inserts.
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Disclaimer: This blog and information herein is provided for informational purposes only. It is not designed to diagnose, treat, or cure any problem. You should contact your physician for further information, diagnosis,and/or testing discussed in this blog. Sports Medicine Acupuncture will then treat after these steps are taken.

Shoulder dislocations - Pro Football

Shoulder dislocation

This is the most common pro football injury.

Typically, this is reduced on the field by the trainer or team doctor. If the shoulder is unable to be reduced, the player is usually sent to the ER for reduction.

See http://www.jointhealing.com/pages/shoulder/shoulder_instability.html for more information.

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How Does Sports Medicine Acupuncture Treat This Injury:
1. Work with the team trainer and PT to find out which Grade of dislocation has occurred.

2. Work on the Shoulder girdle in conjunction with the above staff members. (acupuncture, e-stim, cupping, soft tissue release and corrective exercises as dictated by the injury).

3. Start focusing on realigning the hips since, for example, an elevated illium can cause the opposite or even same side shoulder to elevate. A frontal disparity of the hips being rotated to one side can cause one of the scapula to protract etc.

4. Use the SMAC (Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification - Matt Callison) acupuncture protocol for realigning the hips.

5. These might be some of the disparities that might be found (in the order of importance as it pertains with the shoulder):
a. Ilium Elevation
b. Pelvic Rotation
c. Unilateral Pelvic Tilt
d. Anterior Hip Shift and
e. Bilateral Pelvic Tilt.
(from Vasa Mik - AcuSports San Diego
http://www.acusporthealth.com/practitioners/vasa.html)

6. We work off an alignment grid, and keep track of muscular and postural improvements until the athlete is released back into the team.

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Disclaimer: This blog and information herein is provided for informational purposes only. It is not designed to diagnose, treat, or cure any problem. You should contact your physician for further information, diagnosis,and/or testing discussed in this blog. Sports Medicine Acupuncture will then treat after these steps are taken.