Category Archives: Acupuncture

Acupuncture for Diabetes

In addition to Western Medical Management, acupuncture can be a helpful addition to help manage diabetes.

Acupuncture helps release endorphins. This helps naturally decrease pain, and stimulates the endocrine system. There is also some indication that acupuncture can help manage blood sugar levels and bring balance back to the body.

Acupuncture can increase the speed of digestion. Slowed digestion can be caused by higher blood glucose levels.

Diabetic neuropathy symptoms can be treated with acupuncture as well as prevented.

Oakville rehab clinic with Physiotherapists, massage Therapists, chiropodist

We do not suggest using acupuncture as a sole treatment or management for diabetes. It is important to manage your blood sugar not only through medication, but with exercise and food intake. Acupuncture is simply a part of the puzzle of finding your best health.

Contact us to book with our North Oakville Acupuncturist for this or other health issues.

What is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome?

It is easy to mistake the symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) for other things.

TOS is a complex issue that can take time to diagnose. This is because the symptoms can be seemingly diffuse and difficult to pinpoint.

Thoraoc Outlet Syndrome is a condition affecting the upper extremities. There are a number of arm symptoms.

TOS is caused by the compression of structures in what is called the neurovascular bundle. The name is just what you think. This bundle contains nerves and vasculature (veins and arteries) that move together. They are responsible for sending messages to and from the brain and spinal cord, and blood to and from the heart.

The area of compression of these structures is in the thoracic outlet. The thoracic outlet is made of the area above the first rib, at the side of the neck, between the collarbone and rib and between the top ribs and the muscle of the pectorals minor.

Some Facts:

  • TOS is more common in women
  • Structural anomalies, can contribute to the development of TOS. This includes having an extra rib, or differences where some neck muscles attach.

Types of TOS:

  1. Vascular – Is less common. It affects the blood supply in the thoracic region.
  2. Neurological – Is broken into true neurological and symptomatic subgroups.
  3. True Neurological – is called true, because it can be confirmed using imaging.
  4. Symptomatic TOS – is the presence of symptoms without finding anything in the imaging. This is the most common type of TOS by far. Because of this many people are lead on a “wild goose chase” of tests and imaging, even before being sent to Physio, Massage, or Acupuncture.

Signs and Symptoms of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome:

The signs and symptoms can vary between people. They can fluctuate and range from an annoyance to very painful.

  • Pain – in the neck, shoulder, arm or chest.
  • Tingling and Numbness – in the arm and / or hand
  • Swelling, coolness, visible discolouration of the arm / hand are more rare symptoms.
  • Tension or thickening in the side neck muscles (called the scalenes).
Man at desk showing tennis elbow being treated by an Oakville Physio

Yes we Treat TOS at our North Oakville Clinic:

We benefit form working in a multidisciplinary clinic where we can work together to help the same person. We are able to collaborate and bounce ideas off of one another (with a patients permission of course).

Our Oakville Physiotherapists, Massage Therapists, and Acupuncturist are able to work within their scope of practice. This allows us to help a person with TOS manage their symptoms as well as improve.

TOS is generally treated conservatively. This means through the use of medications prescribed by your physician, exercises, and some hands-on treatment. Most cases do improve over time with consistent treatment including a home program.

Exercises for TOS focus on postures, nerve mobilizations, muscle strength and control of the shoulder blade muscles. Physiotherapists may provide some stretching, soft tissue techniques of tight muscles and mobilizations of the ribs and neck. Your Massage Therapist will offer gentle stretching, and massage of areas of tension. Your acupuncturist may provide acupuncture along the course of the nerves affected. This may help decrease the numbness and tingling, relax muscles, help with pain and help with inflammation.

photo showing Massage Therapy in Oakville

If you have been having pain, tingling, and numbness in the arm, we are here to help.

Contact our North Oakville Clinic. We service our local areas of Milton, Oakville, and Burlington within clinic and our Physiotherapists are able to “see” and treat patients virtually all over Ontario.

Acupuncture for Headaches

Headaches and migraines can really impact a persons daily function and quality fo life.

Finding a treatment that works for you is important in managing chronic headaches.

Many adults who experience chronic headaches and migraines, in addition to their prescribed meds, have success with alternate therapies. Acupuncture is an alternative treatment option for migraines and headaches that has shown to be helpful.

It has been shown that after three months of treatment, there is a decrease in frequency of headaches.

Most private insurance companies cover acupuncture treatments provided by a TCM acupuncturist.

Contact us to book an acupuncture assessment / treatment for your headaches or pain. Our North Oakville Acupuncturist will be happy to help.

Acupuncture and Physio to treat Bells Palsy at Oakville physio clinic

Acupuncture for Pain – Oakville Acupuncturist

Pain that persists beyond its expected period can impact a person’s life significantly. Sleep, mood, and activities of enjoyment can all be affected.

With more information on pain medication dependence, more people seek out alternate options to manage their pain.

Our Oakville Acupuncturist, Massage Therapists, Physiotherapists and Yoga Therapists can all be important allies when you are seeking to manage your pain. Chronic, or persistent pain is pain that persists longer than is expected based on what we know of tissue healing.

Pain is driven by our nervous system. You can read more about that connection in Physio Kristina’s blog post here.

Acupuncture has been shown to be helpful in reducing pain by 50%.

foot pain and custom orthotics in an oakville physio clinic

Acupuncture should be virtually painless. The Acupuncturist places the thin needle into specific points around the body. The placement of the needles are thought, in Eastern terms, to correct imbalances of the energy flow of the body.

In Western medical terms acupuncture is thought to help manage chronic pain by impacting hormone levels, neurotransmitters (ie. endorphins), or the immune system.

Like most treatments for chronic pain, the body needs to time to acclimatize to treatment for best results. Appointments closer together (eg 1x/ week) are usually best to start. As you progress and have less pain, time between your acupuncture treatments are gradually increased.

Acupuncture can work well with other treatments such as massage, yoga therapy and physiotherapy. It is important for your practitioners to know of other treatments you are participating in to help guide timing etc.

woman after working out showing Oakville pelvic health Physio

Your Acupuncturist will advise you on what they think will be best for you in regards to time between appointments, as well as lent of time of your appointment.

Acupuncture treatment is often covered by your private benefits. It is important to check the dollar amount in total as well as per treatment, so you have a full understanding of your coverage.

We are able to provide direct billing services for Acupuncture for most insurance companies, but it is best to check this with your individual plan.

Contact us to book in for an acupuncture visit in our North Oakville clinic.