Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 5 million Americans, 80-90% of whom are women. The disorder is characterized by widespread pain and diffuse tenderness. Although there is no cure, tailored acupuncture might provide some welcome respite, according to a new study.
New research shows that tailored acupuncture might relieve fibromyalgia symptoms.Although difficult to categorize, fibromyalgia is considered a rheumatic condition because it impairs soft tissue and joints and causes pain.
Fibromyalgia carries with it a number of other life-disrupting symptoms that vary from individual to individual.
These symptoms can include muscle stiffness, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and sensitivity to temperature, sounds and bright lights.
The exact causes of fibromyalgia are not well understood; however, hypothesized culprits include traumatic or stressful life events and repetitive injuries.
There might also be links to other diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis; some researchers believe there is a genetic component at work, too. Because there are no known biological markers, diagnosing fibromyalgia can be problematic. To reach a conclusive decision, other overlapping disorders must first be ruled out.
Because of these questions surrounding genesis and diagnosis, effective treatments for fibromyalgia are not forthcoming.
A recent study conducted at Doňa Mercedes Primary Health Centre, in Seville, Spain, looked at the potential use of acupuncture to ease fibromyalgia's symptoms.
Complementary medicine and fibromyalgiaPerhaps because of the lack of medical treatments for fibromyalgia, one study found that 91% of sufferers seek solace in complementary medicine such as hydrotherapy, massage and acupuncture.
Acupuncture is used by 1 in 5 fibromyalgia patients within 2 years of diagnosis.
Previous clinical trials testing acupuncture's efficacy have been inconclusive, but these studies did not tailor the course of acupuncture to suit the individual needs of each fibromyalgia patient.
To investigate whether this might make a difference, the research team, led by Dr. Teresa Leiva, compared tailored acupuncture against sham acupuncture in 153 patients. Sham acupuncture involved using the same guide tubes as the genuine acupuncture group, but without inserting needles. The sham treatment solely focused on the dorsal and lumbar regions.
Each patient (sham and tailored) received 20-minute-long treatments, every week for 9 weeks. During the trial, the patients continued taking any prescription drugs they were already using.
The participants completed questionnaires rating various parameters such as levels of pain, depression and the overall impact of the disease on their lives. These reviews were carried out before the trial, at 10 weeks, 6 months and 12 months.
Sham vs. tailored acupuncture in fibromyalgiaAt the 10-week mark, the tailored acupuncture group reported a 41% drop in pain, whereas the sham acupuncture group reported a 27% reduction.
Twelve months later, the effect was still apparent. The tailored group and sham group reported 20% and 6% reductions in pain, respectively.
The questions that rated the overall impact of fibromyalgia on participant quality of life told the same story across all three time points. The tailored group reported reductions in the disease's negative impact of 35%, 25% and 22%; the sham acupuncture group, at the same points in time, registered reductions of 24.5%, 11% and 5%.
Also, general measures of anxiety, fatigue and depression were significantly better at the 10-week mark for the tailored acupuncture group. The differences were still evident after a year, but the researchers note that antidepressant usage in the group had also risen, making the results difficult to interpret.
The authors of the report, published in Acupuncture in Medicine, a BMJ journal, concluded:
"This treatment produced an improvement in the participants' condition [...] Such an outcome has not been reported by previous studies following the application of standardized treatments: therefore, our results suggest that applying individualized treatment algorithms when starting a course of acupuncture may be important."
As the authors are quick to mention, this is the first time such a positive result has been found; additional, large-scale work will need to be carried out before solid conclusions are drawn. Because current medication only deals with the symptoms of fibromyalgia, any intervention that can ease the suffering will be a welcome advance.

reference: by Tim Newman

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures of the spine. Researchers tested the efficacy of a specialized form of acupuncture and found it effective for enhancing pain reduction for patients with spinal compression fractures due to osteoporosis. Acupuncture combined with medications produced significantly greater positive patient outcomes including pain reduction and improvements in activities of daily living over medications only as a standalone therapy.
Kim et al. from The Boston Spine Group at Tufts University Medical School (Boston, Massachusetts) and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) note, “Vertebral compression fractures affect at least one-fourth of all postmenopausal women. The most significant risk factor is osteoporosis, most commonly seen among Caucasian women a decade or so after menopause.” Kim et al. document that osteoporotic metabolic disorders are often treated with calcium, vitamin D, bisphosphonates, or calcitonin. They add, “Routine hormone replacement therapy has fallen out of favor because of concerns regarding adverse effects….” Kim et al. also note, “Open surgical management with decompression and stabilization should be reserved for the rare patient with neural compression and progressive deformity with neurologic deficits.”
Zhang et al. from the Suining Municipal Hospital of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) conducted a clinical trial comparing the efficacy of acupuncture combined with drug therapy versus drug therapy as a standalone protocol. They document that adding abdominal acupuncture to the regimen of care significantly reduces pain levels and improves the quality of life for patients with osteoporotic compression fractures of the spine. 
The protocol for abdominal acupuncture for the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis was innovated by Professor Bo Zhi-yun. The TCM treatment principle is to regulate the Zang-fu organs and acupuncture meridians. Acupuncture points Qihai (CV6) and Guanyuan (CV4) were needled for their ability to tonify the kidney qi and therefore benefit the bones. To regulate the spleen qi, Zhongwan (CV12) and Xiawan (CV10) were added. 
Supplementary points were added. Huaroumen (ST24) was selected for its ability to benefit the meridians and collaterals. Shuifen (CV9) was selected to ease pain by regulating meridian qi. The treatment strategy was to needle the anterior to benefit the corresponding region on the posterior aspect of the body. All acupuncture points were used to promote the generation and circulation of qi and blood and to cease pain by unblocking collaterals. Acupuncture needles were 0.22 x 40 mm. After the arrival of deqi, the needling depth was regulated to ensure a mild, painless sensation often characterized as a mild pulling or dull sensation. Results were analysed at one, two, and three week follow-up clinical assessments.
In the randomized study, a body style acupuncture group was compared with an abdominal acupuncture group. Body style acupuncture included local Jiaji and Ashi acupoints. Weizhong (BL40) and Chengshan (BL57) were also applied. Reinforcing and reducing manual acupuncture techniques were applied after the arrival of deqi.
Diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), was used as part of the medication regimen. Diclofenac is used for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. An injection of ossotide with saline was applied intravenously and daily. A calcium supplement and alfacalcidol, a vitamin D analogue, were orally administered once per day. In addition, a muscular injection of salcatonin, a calcitonin hormone found in salmon, was applied daily.
The researchers discovered that the group receiving medications had significantly greater positive patient outcomes when combined with abdominal acupuncture over body style acupuncture. However, body style acupuncture combined with medications is significantly more effective than medications as a standalone therapy. The results indicate that an integrative model of patient care produces superior patient outcomes for patients with osteoporotic compression fractures of the spine. The results indicate that medications combined with abdominal acupuncture achieves optimum results.

References:
Zhang, W., Qiu, X. Y. & Wang, J. (2015). Clinical study on abdominal acupuncture for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science. 13(4).
Lei J, Dong XJ. Research progress of conservative treatment for thoracic and lumbar vertebral compression fracture. Zhongxiyi Jiehe Yanjiu, 2013, 5(6): 320-321.
Mirovsky Y, Anekstein Y, Shalmon E, Blankstein A, Peer A. Intradiscal cement leak following percutaneous vertebroplasty. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 2006, 31(10): 1120-1124.
Wei ZC, Cai DZ, Rong LM, Wang K, Dong JW, Jin WT, Lu HD. Treatment analysis of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Zhongshan Daxue Xuebao: Yixue Kexue Ban, 2003, 24(Suppl 1): 130-132.
Kim, David H., and Alexander R. Vaccaro. "Osteoporotic compression fractures of the spine; current options and considerations for treatment." The spine journal 6, no. 5 (2006): 479-487.

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Acupuncture and electroacupuncture relieve lower back pain due to disc herniations. Heilongjiang University of TCM researchers investigated the analgesic effects of both manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture. Both types of acupuncture successfully relieved focal lower back pain and sciatica. 
Electroacupuncture outperformed manual acupuncture in achieving the greatest number of positive patient outcomes. The total effective rate for the relief of pain was 97.5% for electroacupuncture and 89.5% for manual acupuncture in the randomized controlled trial. The total effective rate included patients with significant reductions or elimination of pain, improved lower limb reflexes, ability to resume work, and significant improvements in range of motion.
The researchers applied acupuncture to the following acupoints:

• BL31, Shangliao
• BL32, Ciliao
• BL33, Zhongliao
• BL34, Xialiao
• BL54, Zhibian
• BL40, Weizhong
• BL60, Kunlun

A manual acupuncture group was compared with an electroacupuncture group whose BL31, BL40, BL34, and BL60 acupoints were stimulated with continuous wave stimulation at a comfortable intensity level. Electroacupuncture was only added after the arrival of deqi at the acupoints. Total needle retention time was 30 minutes per acupuncture session for both groups. All patients received acupuncture at a rate of once per day for ten days. The researchers concluded that both acupuncture and electroacupuncture are safe and effective for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation pain. 
The researchers conducted a protocolized study using a predetermined acupuncture point prescription for all participants in the investigation. No customization of the acupuncture point prescription was made based on individual symptoms or differential diagnostics. This approach differs from standard clinical usage wherein a licensed acupuncturist customizes the treatment protocol based upon signs and symptoms. The predetermined acupuncture point prescription is common in research due to the efforts of investigators attempting to eliminate experimental variables.
The researchers note that one part of the investigation was to test the efficacy of needling the Bladder Foot-Taiyang acupuncture meridian for the treatment of lumbar pain. Citing a historical precedent in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles and usage, the researchers applied a modern biomedical experiment to test the ancient indication for use of Bladder Foot-Taiyang acupoints for the treatment of lower back pain. Based on the findings of the investigation, the researchers conclude that needling Bladder Foot-Taiyang acupuncture points are effective in the relief of lumbar disc herniation related pain. Moreover, the researchers conclude that the addition of electroacupuncture is more effective than using only manual acupuncture.
This investigation tests manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and TCM theory on the effectiveness of Bladder Tai-Yang meridian usage for lower back pain treatment. Using a modern randomized controlled study, investigators tested the principle of treating pain along the course of a meridian’s pathway with acupoints located on the meridian. In addition, TCM principles state that lower back pain may be treated with the application of Bladder Tai-Yang meridian points. The results confirm this ancient principle making this an intriguing study in that both clinical results and ancient TCM theory align in a modern investigation.

References:
Xiao F, Cai HB, Ren H & Tao YM. (2015). Clinical Evaluation on Analgesic Effect of Electro-acupuncture at Points of Bladder Meridian on Lumbar Disc Herniation. Acta Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology. 43(4).
Zou R, Xu Y & Zhang HX. (2009). Electroacupuncture and acupoint injection in treating lumbar disc herniation and their analgesic effects. China Journal of Orthopedics. 22(10): 759-761.

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Twist of a needle damages cells and triggers release of anti-inflammatory chemical adenosine, US scientists find

Ever since Chinese doctors first poked their patients with sharp objects 4,000 years ago, and charged them for the pleasure, acupuncture has been shrouded in mystery.
Tradition has it that the procedure works by improving the flow of "qi" along invisible energy channels called meridians, but research published today points to a less mystical explanation for the painkilling claims of acupuncture.
The answer, according to a team of scientists in New York, follows an extraordinary study in which researchers gave regular acupuncture sessions to mice with sore paws.
After each half-hour session the mice felt less discomfort in their paws because the needles triggered the release of a natural painkiller, the researchers say. The needles caused tissue damage that stimulated cells to produce adenosine, an anti-inflammatory chemical, that was effective for up to an hour after the therapy was over.
Modern acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into the skin at specific points around the body. The needles are pushed in a few centimetres, and then heated, twisted or even electrified to produce their claimed medical effects.
Acupuncture has spread around the world since originating in China but conventional western medicine has remained steadfastly sceptical. Although there is now good evidence that acupuncture can relieve pain, many of the other health benefits acupuncturists claim are on shakier ground.
The latest research gives doctors a sound explanation of how sticking needles into the skin can alleviate, rather than exacerbate, pain. The discovery will challenge the view , widely held among scientists, that any benefits a patient feels after acupuncture are due purely to the placebo effect.
"The view that acupuncture has little benefit beyond the placebo effect has really hampered research into the technique," said Maiken Nedergaard, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester medical centre in New York state, who led the study.
"Some people think any work in this area is junk research, but I think that's wrong. I was really surprised at the arrogance of some of my colleagues. We can benefit from what has been learned over many thousands of years," Nedergaard said.
"I believe we've found the main mechanism by which acupuncture relieves pain. Adenosine is a very potent anti-inflammatory compound and most chronic pain is caused by inflammation."
The scientists gave each mouse a sore paw by injecting it with an inflammatory chemical. Half of the mice lacked a gene that is needed to make adenosine receptors, which are found on major nerves.
The therapy session involved inserting a fine needle into an acupuncture point in the knee above each mouse's sore foot. In keeping with traditional practice, the needles were rotated periodically throughout the half-hour session.
To measure how effective the acupuncture was, the researchers recorded how quickly each mouse pulled its sore paw away from a small bristly brush. The more pain the mice were in, the faster they pulled away.
Writing in the journal, Nature Neuroscience, Nedergaard's team describe how acupuncture reduced pain by two-thirds in normal mice, but had no effect on the discomfort of mice that lacked the adenosine receptor gene. Without adenosine receptors, the mice were unable to respond to the adenosine released when cells were damaged by acupuncture needles.
Acupuncture had no effect in either group of mice if the needles were not rotated, suggesting that the tissues had to be physically damaged to release adenosine.
Nedergaard said that twisting the needles seems to cause enough damage to make cells release the painkilling chemical. This is then picked up by adenosine receptors on nearby nerves, which react by damping down pain. Further tests on the mice revealed that levels of adenosine surged 24-fold in the tissues around the acupuncture needles during and immediately after each session.
One of the longstanding mysteries surrounding acupuncture is why the technique only seems to alleviate pain if needles are inserted at specific points. Nedergaard believes that most of these acupuncture points are along major nerve tracks, and as such are parts of the body that have plenty of adenosine receptors.
In a final experiment, Nedergaard's team injected mice with a cancer drug that made it harder to remove adenosine from their tissues. The drug, called deoxycoformycin, boosted the effects of acupuncture dramatically, more than tripling how long the pain relief lasted.
"There is an attitude among some researchers that studying alternative medicine is unfashionable," said Nedergaard. "Because it has not been understood completely, many people have remained sceptical."
Although the study explains how acupuncture can alleviate pain, it sheds no light on the other health benefits that some practitioners believe the procedure can achieve.
Josephine Briggs, the director of the national centre for complementary and alternative medicine at the US National Institutes of Health, said: "It's clear that acupuncture may activate a number of different mechanisms … It's an interesting contribution to our growing understanding of the complex intervention which is acupuncture."

reference: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/may/30/acupuncture-pain-relief-adenosine-mice
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Acupuncture integrates into hospital emergency room care and helps relieve pain and nausea. A new study conducted at the Northern Hospital in Melbourne, Australia demonstrates that acupuncture is safe and effective for the treatment of pain and nausea in the emergency room setting. The research reveals that adding acupuncture to conventional biomedical care results in better patient medical outcomes.

The study was conducted between January and August of 2010. A total of 200 patients presenting to emergency room triage with pain and/or nausea were treated with both acupuncture and biomedical care. This integrative medicine group was compared with another group receiving only biomedical ‘western medicine’ care. The acupuncture group responded with an 84.8% response rate that they would consider repeating acupuncture care. Of that 84.8%, a total of 53.5% noted “definitely yes” to repeating acupuncture care in the emergency room setting. 

The most common conditions treated with acupuncture were musculoskeletal concerns. Abdominal and flank pain were the second most common condition. Reviewing all conditions, the integrative medicine acupuncture group demonstrated significant gains over the biomedicine group in significant decreases in both pain and nausea.

The researchers conclude that acupuncture is both safe and effective. They also note that acupuncture is “acceptable” to patients in the emergency room setting. As a result, the researchers have called for a study to understand the cost-effectiveness of implementing acupuncture into the emergency medicine department. 

Related research finds acupuncture cost-effective for the treatment of pain. Researchers from the University of York, UK, investigated the economic value of acupuncture for the treatment of lower back pain, neck pain, dysmenorrhea, migraines, arthritis and headaches. The researchers documented correlations between the clinical benefits of acupuncture and medical cost savings. The researchers concluded, “Acupuncture appears to be a cost-effective intervention for some chronic pain conditions.”

Another study finds acupuncture more cost-effective for the treatment of herpes zoster (shingles) than pharmaceutical drugs. In the study, a total of 500 patients with herpes zoster were placed in a randomized clinical trial. The researchers found no statistical difference between acupuncture and drugs for the “curative effect.” Both drugs and acupuncture demonstrated the same clinical benefits to patients in the fight against shingles. Also, the acupuncture treatments cost significantly less money than drug therapy.

References:
Zhang, Anthony L., Shefton J. Parker, David McD Taylor, and Charlie CL Xue. "Acupuncture and standard emergency department care for pain and/or nausea and its impact on emergency care delivery: a feasibility study." Acupuncture in Medicine (2014): acupmed-2013.


For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Stanford University doctors conclude that acupuncture during surgery reduces pain. Research published in The Laryngoscope finds acupuncture effective for reducing pain and improving restoration of a normal diet postoperatively when acupuncture is applied during surgery. Doctors from the Stanford University School of Medicine conclude that acupuncture is “feasible, well tolerated, and results in improved pain and earlier return of diet postoperatively.”

The research was conducted by doctors from two Stanford University School of Medicine (Palo Alto, California) departments, the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the Department of Anesthesia. 
A randomized-controlled investigation of acupuncture’s benefits to pediatric tonsillectomy patients reveals that acupuncture patients “experienced significantly less pain at various postoperative time points as compared to the control cohort, and also that the onset of analgesia in the acupuncture cohort began by 36 hours postoperatively, whereas the control group did not reach significant analgesia until 84 hours postoperatively.”

Postoperative oral intake improved for patients receiving acupuncture during the tonsillectomy operation. The researchers note, “Oral intake was significantly more improved in the acupuncture group than the control group (P = 0.01).” They add that “the acupuncture group had significantly increased oral intake starting at 24 hours and lasting through all remaining time points examined, whereas the control group had significantly increased oral intake starting at 72 hours postoperatively.” 

Measures of intraoperative acupuncture on nausea and vomiting did not produce significantly different results for the acupuncture and control groups. Out of a total of 59 patients, five acupuncture group patients experienced nausea or vomiting. Similarly, seven control group patients experienced nausea or vomiting. The researchers note that the numbers are not statistically significant (P = 0.12). Overall, the researchers note that the rates of nausea and vomiting were “very low” for both groups and that this may be attributed to “other factors in our regimen” including surgical techniques, gastric suctioning, etc… The researchers comment, “We do, however, find the differences between the treatment and control groups in postoperative pain scores to be clinically significant, particularly when treatment resulted in an earlier improvement of oral intake.” 

Researchers note that no adverse side effects from acupuncture occurred. They comment that only sterile disposable acupuncture needles were used, adding that this may have averted adverse effects. The researchers note, “Complications related to acupuncture are very rare….” In many states, including California where the investigation was conducted, only sterile disposable needles are legal for use during acupuncture. Although autoclaving sterilizes needles, reusable needles are not used in California and many other states. Single use sterile disposable needles have quickly become the national standard in the USA. The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) and the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) “note that not a single death has been reported to result from acupuncture in the US.”

The Stanford University researchers note that the study of acupuncture during surgery is a “relatively new area of research.” They add, “One of the strengths of this study is its rigorous double-blinded randomized design with a sham acupuncture control.” Based on the positive patient outcomes for both pain reduction and oral intake restoration, the researchers suggest further studies with larger sample sizes.

Acupuncture Procedure
Electroacupuncture was applied intraoperatively at alternating frequencies between 4 and 100 Hz with a Pantheon Research stimulator. Electroacupuncture connected acupoints LI4 (Hegu) to ST36 (Zusanli) and P6 (Neiguan) to TB5 (Waiguan). Electroacupuncture was also applied to acupoint KD6 (Zhaohai). The researchers comment that alternating frequencies between 4 and 100 Hz were utilized to “optimize the release of endogenous endorphins, enkephalins, and dynorphins.” ST36 was chosen for its “analgesic properties,” LI4 and KD6 were chosen for their analgesic actions on the throat, head, and neck; and PC6 was chosen for its antiemetic properties. All needles were inserted to a depth wherein a deqi fascial grab was achieved. The needle depth ranged between approximately 0.5 - 1.0 cun.

Acupoint HT7 (Shenmen), located on the wrist, was added for its ability to reduce “postoperative agitation.” No electroacupuncture was added to HT7 or auricular acupuncture points. Seirin brand auricular acupuncture “junior tacks” were added to outer ear points shenmen, master cerebral, cingulate gyrus, and tonsil.

The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study finds intraoperative acupuncture effective for reducing pain and improving postoperative oral intake. Integration of acupuncture into the operatory was also found both feasible and well tolerated. Funding sources are the Stanford University Medical Scholars Research Program, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Fellow Program, and the Stanford Children’s Health Research Institute Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Faculty Scholar. Disclosures note that no conflicts of interest or other sources of funding or financial relationships exist. The research is published in The Laryngoscope, a publication of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society.


Reference: Tsao, Gabriel J., Anna H. Messner, Jeannie Seybold, Zahra N. Sayyid, Alan G. Cheng, and Brenda Golianu. "Intraoperative acupuncture for posttonsillectomy pain: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial." The Laryngoscope (2015).


For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Let’s face it, you deal with some, if not all of these sore spots on a regular basis. It finally hit me in college that I wasn’t a grom anymore. Now, just to be clear I obviously knew I wasn’t a grom, but you see where I’m going. I had hair under my armpits, my acne had disappeared, my braces were long gone, and I had a voice that was almost as deep as Chef from South Park. I was still young, but my body was aging. My body could no longer handle the relentless beating I was inclined to throw at it. In fact, I think I made the biological jump from grom to dad status overnight. My knees ached after a long session, my back would spasm mid pop-up, and it would take more than a few beers to get rid of the soreness. Overall, my time in the water was becoming less enjoyable.

It got to the point where the waves had to be really good to make paddling out worthwhile. I tried multiple remedies including yoga. That helped, but it never really solved the problem. I had heard from a number of people that I should try acupuncture. I was intrigued, but still slightly skeptical. All I knew was it involved someone sticking needles in you and 8 out of 10 of the acupuncture offices I passed resembled a happy-ending massage parlor.

So after a couple years of this, I did the research and found an acupuncturist that looked like she knew what she was doing. A few months into a regimen of weekly treatments, my back felt the best it had in a decade. Besides my back, the treatments have been able to help a stiff neck, knee pain or even a common cold–all things that the regular surfer suffers from.

I wanted to help other surfers get a better understanding of acupuncture and how it can help, so I got the run-down from my acupuncturist, Angela Huber. Because she’s located in the LA area, she deals with a lot of surfers, and I hear she shreds on a snowboard. Here’s what I learned:

What happens in an acupuncture session?
In a typical first acupuncture session, the acupuncturist takes a thorough medical history and focusses on the chief medical complaints that brought the patient in. Afterwards, the acupuncturist will insert the needles in the acupuncture points they have decided will be most beneficial to the patients. Once all the needles are in place, they will leave the room and let the patient rest for 20-30 minutes. Some acupuncturists may also use additional modalities such as acupressure, tui na (bodywork), gua sha (a scraping technique), cupping, moxa, electrostimulation (application of electricity to the needles), and or infra-red heat to enhance the treatment.

Talk about the needles and what pain comes with their use.
Needles vary in both length and gauge, but generally speaking, are much thinner than the needles used when one gets an injection or has blood drawn. When the needle is inserted, the patient may feel some level of pain or sensation for a brief second. Once in place, the patient might feel a dull sensation, heaviness or fullness at the needle site, sometimes a tingling or slightly electric sensation, warmth, or coolness. Most patients feel relaxed while the needles are in and go to sleep or enter into a deeply relaxed or meditative state.

Why does this work?
According to Chinese medicine, there are 12 primary channels that run up and down the human body. When an acupuncture needle is inserted into the body, it creates a physical stimulus. In western science, a stimulus is defined as a detectable change in either the external environment or within the body itself. The body, when introduced to a new stimulus, produces a response. There are a variety of physiological changes that occur that researchers have documented following stimulation of acupuncture points. One of the most note-worthy of these changes is the release of endorphins that moderate pain and mood. One would be surprised to know that this effect can be so strong that acupuncture has been used in lieu of anesthesia in surgery.

It is important to understand that acupuncture is helpful for more than just pain. One of the ways that it improves the health of the whole body is by acting on and regulating the neuroendocrine system, also known as the HPA axis (Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal hormone endocrine feedback system). The HPA axis consists of endocrine glands that control hundreds of bodily functions involved in the stress response, digestive system, immune system, sex hormones, the storage of energy (weight gain) or expenditure (weight loss), as well as emotions, mood and circadian rhythms.

What about acupuncture and surfing?
The most common injuries I see in surfers are overuse injuries such as shoulder strain or joint issues, cervical injury/ degeneration or neck strain, lower back pain, and knee injuries. Many professional athletes use acupuncture to improve performance, muscle recovery, decrease pain, and heal injuries. Acupuncture can help strengthen tendons and ligaments, improve circulation to muscles and joints, break up scar tissue and improve flexibility and ROM (range of motion). It can help the body remove lactic acid buildup and cellular waste in the tissues and decrease soreness, as well as improve energy levels. I’ve also seen improved mental focus in some patients.

What is a reasonable cost for a treatment?
Cost of treatment varies depending on many factors such as location of the practice and expertise. Acupuncturists usually charge anywhere from $50.00 to $150.00 per session. Many acupuncturists take insurance, and many insurance plans cover acupuncture.

What are the best practices to get the best results out of my treatment?
Have an open mind, ask a lot of questions, be open and honest and detailed when describing your complaint and health goals. Before treatment, it is important to be in a good mind space, have eaten a normal sized meal some time before (don’t want to be starving or have too low blood sugar), hydrated, and rested. It is best not to be overly caffeinated or hungover.

Are there complementary treatments that surfers should considered combining with their acupuncture treatment?
Cupping therapy is another treatment that can relieve the aches and pains that come along with an active lifestyle and an againg body. 
Cupping is an awesome treatment modality that can benefit everyone, especially athletes. Cupping therapy traditionally involves the use of glass cups (although some practitioners now use plastic cups) that are placed on the skin usually over the muscles of the back, shoulders, and neck. Before placing the cups, the practitioner uses heat to burn the oxygen inside the cup so that it creates a vacuum, which causes the cup to have suction. The suction separates the muscle and fascia layers underneath and draws blood to the surface. This action helps break up knots, improves circulation, and draws toxins and cellular debris back into circulation so that they can be flushed out. I think of it like getting an oil change, beneficial to anyone, and should be done on a regular basis.

Another helpful therapy that is especially great for surfers and athletes is gua sha. Gua sha involves the use of a special tool to scrape the skin over the back, neck, shoulders, or IT band, hamstrings, etc. It improves circulation, and breaks up scar tissue, releases toxins, and lactic acid build up. Both cupping and gua sha are also traditionally done to improve immune system.


Reference: http://www.theinertia.com/surf/heres-why-acupuncture-will-help-your-surfing/


For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Acupuncture and herbs restore motility for patients with motor impairments due to sports injuries. Researchers from the Physical Education Institute at Zhengzhou University investigated the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) style acupuncture and herbs on amateur and professional athletes suffering from motor impairments due to the demands of physical training. The researchers concluded that restoration of motility is significant as a result of applying acupuncture and herbs. However, an additive effect was discovered by combining acupuncture and herbs into a therapeutic regimen. The combination therapy produced superior patient outcomes.

Participants in the study suffered from physical motility limitations. Head and neck impairments accounted for 42% of the patients. Upper limb impairments comprised 24.6% and lower limb impairments accounted for 85.4% of participants. Acute physical limitations accounted for 85.4% of participants and 14.6% were patients with chronic motility impairments.

The total effective rate was calculated from a combination of patients in three categories of improvement: cured, effective, and improved. Patients rated as cured had freer movements of the limbs without any limitations and were able to participate in normal physical training. Patients in the effective category had complete resolution of soreness at the affected regions and movement was free and without limitation at lower levels of physically demanding activity. Improved patients had reduced pain levels and patients were able to perform simple exercises.

The total effective rate for the acupuncture only group was 70%. The herbal medicine group achieved a 62% total effective rate. A group receiving both acupuncture and herbal medicine achieved a total effective rate of 84.4%. The researchers concluded that acupuncture combined with herbs is highly effective for the treatment of physical activity induced motility impairments. The combined therapeutic approach is more effective than either treatment modality as a standalone procedure.

Many of the herbs used in the study were selected for their ability to nourish the liver, kidneys, spleen, and stomach. Another major treatment principle was promoting blood circulation. The herbal medicine given to the participants included Gou Qi Zi, Shan Yao, Di Long, DangGui, and related herbs. A decoction was taken once per day by participants for a total of 30 times. 

Acupuncture was applied to areas locally at the limbs with 0.30 mm X 40 mm needles. Distal acupoints were also added. Needle retention time was 20 minutes per session. Treatment was given once per day with a grand total of 30 treatments per participant. Acupoints used in the study included:

• Yang Xi (LI5)
• He Gu (LI4)
• Zhou San Li (LI10)
• Liang Qiu (ST34)

The research was published in the Bulletin of Science and Technology. This type of research has been conducted in hospitals and universities throughout the world, including the US. At the Healthcare Medicine Institute, we provide acupuncture continuing education courses featuring the treatment of pain and motor impairment related disorders. To learn about the treatment of plantar fasciitis for state acupuncture CEUs and NCCAOM PDAs, click the following: Plantar Fasciitis And Acupuncture. To view an example of a continuing education course on the treatment of wrist pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, click on the following: Wrist Pain And Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.


References:
Ji, H. (2014). Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Clinical Research for the Treatment of Motility Limited Physical Activity. Bulletin of Science and Technology, 30 (7).

Sun, H. (2006). Challenges Faced by Acupuncture Technique and the Strategies to Overcome. Journal of Chinese Acupuncture, 26 (4).

- See more at: http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1512-acupuncture-frees-movement-from-sports-injuries#sthash.7ohOx4EF.dpuf




For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.