Acupuncture

Acupuncture stimulates your body’s natural healing ability, activates neurotransmitters, releases natural pain relievers, and improves nerve activity — activities that make it exceptionally beneficial for a vast array of injuries and health conditions. Aaron Martin, DC, and the chiropractic team at Iowa Chiropractic Clinic & Sports Injuries in Altoona, Ankeny, and Grimes, Iowa, offer acupuncture as part of your comprehensive chiropractic care. To learn how acupuncture can ease your pain and support healing, call the nearest office today or connect online to request an appointment.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture promotes healing by strategically inserting specialized needles into areas of your body called acupuncture points (acupoints). Traditional Chinese medicine targets specific acupoints that align with body systems. Inserting the needles restores the flow of energy in that area and supports the body’s natural healing ability.

The needles also stimulate nerve activity, relax muscles, and trigger the release of natural biochemicals, such as neurotransmitters, hormones, and endorphins. These substances ease pain, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.

The team at Iowa Chiropractic Clinic & Sports Injuries practices electro-acupuncture. This technique is the same as traditional acupuncture but enhances your results by running a weak electrical current through the needles.

What health conditions does acupuncture treat?

The World Health Organization supports acupuncture for its ability to treat many health problems, including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Headaches and migraines
• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Muscle spasms
• Fibromyalgia
• Acute and allergic rhinitis
• Gastritis
• Facial pain
• Stress

Iowa Chiropractic Clinic & Sports Injuries specializes in acupuncture because it’s remarkably beneficial for treating musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain. Injuries affect more than one body area. With acupuncture, they can support healing in multiple areas at one time.

Chronic pain causes changes in your central nervous system that make nerves hypersensitive and perpetuates a cycle of pain. Acupuncture eases that problem by improving communication between nerves while boosting natural pain relievers.

What should I expect during acupuncture?

Acupuncture needles are not what you might expect. They’re not like the hollow hypodermic needles used to inject medications. The needles used during acupuncture are slim as a strand of hair and solid yet flexible. They also have a tapered, rounded end.

The unique design of acupuncture needles lets them gently glide through your skin instead of cutting through the tissues (like a hypodermic needle). You may feel a very brief twinge when your provider inserts the needle, but many patients don’t feel anything.

After the needle is in place, you may feel occasional tingling, but you should never experience discomfort or pain. You only need to relax for 10-15 minutes, then your provider removes the needles, and you return to your daily activities. 

To learn more about acupuncture and how it can help you heal from injuries, call Iowa Chiropractic Clinic & Sports Injuries or request an appointment online today.