Acupuncture

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Types of Conditions that Acupuncture is Beneficial for:
Acupuncture can be a very effective solution when treating many different problems. It works by increasing the circulation to the area and decreasing inflammation.  Secondly, acupuncture stimulates regrowth of the cells and tissues in an injured area. And also, it helps to reduce pain by activating opioid systems in the brain that respond to pain. Sometimes in pain conditions, the central nervous system remembers the pain, even if the injury is healed. Acupuncture helps to reteach the brain and nervous system to be healthy again.

The acupuncture needles are inserted into meridian points associated with the condition a patient has. The needles are very fine. The needle is thinner than your hair diameter!

Dr. Barbara Rodwin has treated: Ankles sprains, shin splints, Ilio-tibial band problems, Osteo-Arthritis of different  joints, Patello-femoral syndrome, hip problems, Sciatica, lower back problems, rotator cuff issues, golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, migraines, neck problems. Also: pre-menstrual syndrome, immune system problems, depression/anxiety, colds, flu, rheumatoid arthritis, and other arthritic conditions.

There are fewer adverse effects associated with acupuncture than with many standard drug treatments (such as anti-inflammatory medication and steroid injections) used to manage painful musculoskeletal conditions. 

Brian Berman, M.D., director of the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine in Baltimore, confirmed that acupuncture is definitely becoming a more popular treatment option for North Americans.  

"There is more evidence coming out showing acupuncture is safe and often effective and should be considered as part of a multidisciplinary approach for chronic pain," he said.

Are you a candidate for Acupuncture on your hip or knee?

Several studies have been done to test the efficacy of acupuncture in treatment of hip pain. A randomized, controlled study of 3,633 osteoarthritis patients, published in the November 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, assessed the effectiveness of acupuncture along with routine care compared to routine care alone in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee joints. 

Patients who received acupuncture with the routine care improved markedly compared to patients who only received routine care. Patients were randomly assigned to receive up to 15 acupuncture treatments in a 3-month period versus a control group that received no acupuncture. Some patients who did not agree to be randomly assigned also received acupuncture. The randomized and non-randomized acupuncture patients showed significant improvement in symptoms at three months and the improvement was maintained at 6 months compared to patients not receiving acupuncture. Quality of life also improved in the acupuncture group.