I am often asked about the difference between the effects a cortisone shot will have compared to acupuncture. The indications for a cortisone shot are the same for acupuncture: to relieve pain and inflammation.
Read MoreFoot drop due to peroneal mononeuropathy (aka peroneal nerve dysfunction) occurs when the nerve in your lower leg has been damaged or compressed. This nerve, called the peroneal nerve, is a branch of the sciatic nerve that exits your spine at L4-S3 levels. The peroneal nerve runs from the outer part of your knee (just behind the fibular head) to the outer part of your foot and has several branches (common, superficial, and deep). It innervates the muscles that dorsiflex the foot (flexing your foot upwards) and extend the toes.
Read MoreAcupuncture has gained popularity over the past decade. More people seek it out and more physicians are referring their patients to acupuncturists for various conditions. Most have heard of if not experienced acupuncture, but have you heard of dry needling? Despite the growing popularity surrounding both therapeutic approaches, there remains a lot of confusion about how they differ from each other.
Read MoreA meta-analysis was published in the journal The Neurologist this month that examined PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases from their inception to April 25, 2021, for randomized controlled trials. The conclusions from this meta-analysis show acupuncture's effectiveness for the treatment of migraines when compared to sham acupuncture (or placebo acupuncture, which is performed away from the established acupuncture points or without stimulation and manipulation to avoid eliciting “De Qi” sensations or using a non-penetrating technique). To read the study in full click HERE. Below, I've included some excerpts from the study for you.
Read MoreLast November, an article titled "How acupuncture fights inflammation," was published in the Harvard Gazette, which is the official news website for Harvard University. This article discussed how a team of researchers led by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School are able to explain the underlying neuroanatomy of acupuncture through a specific signaling pathway. It has been very exciting to see the research being conducted to discover the neuroscience behind acupuncture, along with other mechanisms of function, such as on a molecular, chemical, and immunological level. It has been an important goal of mine to inform about acupuncture's effectiveness citing evidence-based research. I thought I would share this article with you all to help answer any curiosities you may have about how acupuncture works .
Read MoreAcupuncture is an effective therapy to help improve the healing process after a surgical procedure. It has proven effects on promoting blood circulation which can help heal tissue. In addition to improving healing, acupuncture can also alleviate other symptoms that often present after surgery, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and decreased gut motility.
Read MoreThere have been extensive studies on the effectiveness of acupuncture for low back pain, osteoarthritis of the knee, headaches, and neck pain. We are still discovering more about the mechanisms of how acupuncture works, however scientific evidence has already established multiple methods of how acupuncture works on a molecular level.
Read MoreDeQuervain’s tenosynovitis is a painful inflammatory condition that affects the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. According the a study published in the BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, “The estimated prevalence of de Quervain tenosynovitis is about 0.5% in men and 1.3% in women with peak prevalence among those in their forties and fifties. It may be seen more commonly in individuals with a history of medial or lateral epicondylitis. Bilateral involvement is often reported in new mothers or child care providers in whom spontaneous resolution typically occurs once lifting of the child is less frequent.”[1]
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