If you have never had acupuncture before, you may be wondering what actually happens once you get on the treatment table.
Where do the needles go? How does Dr. Jenn decide which acupuncture points to use? Does acupuncture hurt? Why are electrical leads sometimes attached to the needles? And why might a needle be placed somewhere other than the exact spot where you feel pain?
At Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre, Dr. Jenn Garven provides contemporary medical acupuncture as part of her chiropractic practice. Her approach uses the patient’s history, physical examination, anatomy, muscles, joints and nervous system to help determine where acupuncture needles are placed.
This blog takes you through an acupuncture treatment from beginning to end.
If you are looking for information about the service itself, visit our main Acupuncture in Oakville page.
What Happens During an Acupuncture Treatment?
An acupuncture treatment starts with an assessment. Dr. Jenn determines what appears to be contributing to your symptoms, chooses appropriate treatment areas, inserts thin sterile acupuncture needles and may add gentle electrical stimulation when appropriate. The number and location of needles are individualized for each patient.
Most acupuncture treatments at our clinic take approximately 20 to 30 minutes, although an initial appointment may require additional time for the history and examination.
The biggest thing to understand is that acupuncture is not simply putting needles wherever it hurts.
Dr. Jenn first wants to understand why it hurts.
Step 1: Dr. Jenn Assesses the Problem
Before Dr. Jenn reaches for an acupuncture needle, she assesses the condition being treated.
Two people can walk into the clinic complaining of pain in exactly the same area and have completely different problems.
For example, pain in the back of the thigh might be related to a hamstring strain, irritation involving the low back, muscular guarding, a tendon injury or another condition entirely.
Shoulder pain could involve the rotator cuff, surrounding muscles, the shoulder joint or symptoms referred from the neck.
That is why acupuncture begins with an examination rather than a predetermined list of acupuncture points.
Depending on the complaint, Dr. Jenn may assess:
- where the pain is located
- when the symptoms started
- whether there was a specific injury
- which movements aggravate or relieve the pain
- muscle tenderness
- joint movement
- strength
- range of motion
- neurological findings when appropriate
- previous injuries
- previous treatment
- the patient’s normal activities and goals
The assessment helps Dr. Jenn determine whether acupuncture is appropriate and which areas may make sense to treat.
Step 2: How Does Dr. Jenn Choose Acupuncture Points?
This is one of the most common questions patients ask.
Dr. Jenn completed the McMaster University Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program, which applies modern anatomy, physiology and nervous-system function to acupuncture treatment.
Rather than giving every patient with the same diagnosis exactly the same set of needles, Dr. Jenn selects treatment locations according to what she finds during the examination.
Acupuncture needles may be placed directly around the painful area, into selected muscles, near anatomical structures related to the symptoms or occasionally farther away from the area that hurts.
Acupuncture Needles Around the Painful Area
The most obvious approach is sometimes treating the area that is actually painful.
For example, if examination identifies painful or sensitive muscular tissue in the hamstring, shoulder or forearm, Dr. Jenn may place selected acupuncture needles around those tissues.
The needle provides sensory stimulation to the area being treated and may influence pain sensitivity and muscular guarding.
That does not mean that every painful structure should automatically be needled.
The diagnosis and anatomy matter.
Acupuncture Needles in Related Muscles
Pain often causes other muscles to tighten or compensate.
Someone with a painful shoulder may begin overusing muscles around the shoulder blade and upper trapezius.
Someone with a painful knee may develop additional muscular tension in the thigh or lower leg.
When those tissues appear relevant to the patient’s symptoms, Dr. Jenn may incorporate them into the acupuncture treatment.
Why Are Acupuncture Needles Sometimes Placed Away From the Pain?
This can look strange if you have never had acupuncture before.
You might come in complaining about one area and notice Dr. Jenn considering a treatment point somewhere else.
Contemporary medical acupuncture can take into account the neurological relationships between muscles, joints and the nerves supplying them.
Muscles and other tissues receive their nerve supply from specific regions of the nervous system.
Depending on the examination, Dr. Jenn may therefore consider both the symptomatic area itself and other anatomically related treatment locations.
That does not mean that everyone with hamstring pain needs needles in the low back or everyone with shoulder pain needs acupuncture around the neck.
It simply gives Dr. Jenn additional options when those areas appear clinically relevant.
For a more detailed explanation of how acupuncture may affect pain and the nervous system, read our Acupuncture Frequently Asked Questions.
Step 3: The Acupuncture Needles Are Inserted
A lot of people hear the word “needle” and immediately picture having blood drawn.
Acupuncture needles are very different.
They are extremely thin, solid needles rather than the larger hollow needles used for injections or blood tests.
Dr. Jenn uses sterile, single-use acupuncture needles that are disposed of after treatment.
The depth of insertion varies according to:
- the area being treated
- the anatomy underneath the skin
- the size of the patient
- the muscle or tissue being targeted
- the treatment technique being used
Some needles may be inserted quite superficially.
Other areas contain larger muscles where deeper insertion may be appropriate.
Understanding the anatomy underneath the needle is an important part of performing acupuncture safely.
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
Most patients are surprised by how little they feel.
You may notice a very small prick as the needle passes through the skin.
Once the needle is in place, you might feel:
- mild pressure
- heaviness
- warmth
- a temporary dull ache
- a brief muscle twitch
- almost nothing at all
A tight or sensitive muscle can sometimes feel achy when it is needled, but acupuncture does not need to be extremely painful to be useful.
If something feels uncomfortable, tell Dr. Jenn.
The needle can be repositioned, adjusted or removed.
You are always in control of the treatment.
Step 4: Electroacupuncture May Be Added
Some of the acupuncture treatments shown in our clinic photos have small electrical leads connected to the needles.
This is called electroacupuncture.
Electroacupuncture uses a controlled electrical signal between selected acupuncture needles to provide additional stimulation.
Patients typically describe it as a gentle pulsing, tapping or rhythmic sensation.
The intensity can be adjusted until it is comfortable.
Dr. Jenn does not automatically use electroacupuncture every time somebody receives acupuncture.
It may be considered depending on:
- the condition being treated
- the tissues involved
- examination findings
- patient comfort
- patient preference
- Dr. Jenn’s clinical judgment
Some acupuncture sessions include electrical stimulation.
Others use the needles alone.
An Example: Acupuncture for a Hamstring Injury
The original version of this blog used a hamstring injury as an example, and it is still a good way to explain how acupuncture treatment can vary.
Imagine two patients both come in pointing to the back of the thigh.
One has a recent mild hamstring strain.
Another has had recurring posterior thigh pain for six months.
Although the location sounds similar, the underlying problem and treatment may be completely different.
Dr. Jenn would first assess the hamstring and surrounding areas.
If acupuncture is appropriate, selected needles may be placed around the involved muscular tissue.
Depending on the examination, she may also consider other anatomically related areas or use electroacupuncture.
What acupuncture does not do is magically sew a torn hamstring back together.
Muscles and tendons have their own biological healing processes.
Acupuncture may instead be used as an adjunctive treatment to help manage pain, sensitivity or muscular guarding while appropriate activity modification, movement and rehabilitation address the injury itself.
That same principle applies to most of the muscle and joint conditions for which Dr. Jenn uses acupuncture.
Step 5: The Needles Remain in Place While You Relax
Once the needles have been inserted, they usually remain in place for a period of the treatment.
At this point, there isn’t much for the patient to do.
You simply relax on the treatment table.
Dr. Jenn may check the needles, adjust stimulation or modify the treatment during the appointment.
The exact number of needles varies considerably.
One patient may need only a handful of needles while another treatment may involve more.
More needles does not automatically mean better acupuncture.
The goal is to use the treatment that makes sense for that particular patient rather than trying to reach a certain number.
How Long Are Acupuncture Needles Left In?
There is no universal acupuncture needle retention time.
Some treatments may require relatively short needle placement while others may leave the needles in for longer.
At our clinic, acupuncture appointments are commonly around 20 to 30 minutes, but the actual time the needles remain inserted depends on the treatment being performed.
Dr. Jenn adjusts the treatment according to the patient rather than using exactly the same protocol every time.
Step 6: The Needles Are Removed
At the end of the acupuncture treatment, Dr. Jenn removes the needles and disposes of them.
Depending on the condition being treated, she may then reassess something that was painful or restricted before treatment.
That might include:
- range of motion
- a painful movement
- muscle tenderness
- joint movement
- how the area feels
- the patient’s ability to perform a particular activity
Some patients notice a change immediately.
Others notice changes later in the day or after several appointments.
Some people do not respond significantly to acupuncture.
There is no responsible way to promise that every person will improve after one treatment or that everybody requires a predetermined number of acupuncture visits.
The patient’s response helps determine what happens next.
What Does Acupuncture Feel Like Afterwards?
Most people can return to their regular daily activities after an acupuncture appointment.
Temporary effects can include:
- mild tenderness where a needle was placed
- muscular soreness
- a small bruise
- temporary fatigue
- relaxation
- a small amount of bleeding from a needle site
These effects are generally mild and temporary.
What you should or shouldn’t do afterward usually depends more on the condition being treated than on the acupuncture.
Someone receiving acupuncture for ordinary muscular tightness may be able to continue their normal day.
Someone being treated following an acute ankle injury may still need to modify activity because of the ankle injury itself.
Why Dr. Jenn Uses Contemporary Medical Acupuncture
Dr. Jenn Garven is a chiropractor at Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre and provides contemporary medical acupuncture within her chiropractic practice.
She grew up in Glen Abbey and completed her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at Acadia University before graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
Dr. Jenn also completed the 300-hour Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program at McMaster University.
The program includes training involving:
- anatomy
- surface anatomy
- palpation
- safe needle insertion
- nervous-system function
- neurofunctional acupuncture
- electroacupuncture
- treatment planning
- musculoskeletal pain
- practical needling techniques
That training fits particularly well with the way Dr. Jenn treats muscle and joint problems.
Rather than choosing acupuncture points simply because a patient says, “My shoulder hurts,” she first tries to determine which structures appear to be involved and whether acupuncture makes sense for that particular problem.
You can learn more about Dr. Jenn Garven.
Acupuncture Is Not the Same Treatment for Every Condition
One of the reasons we created this blog is that an acupuncture treatment can look dramatically different depending on the problem.
Needle locations used for a painful elbow may be completely different from those considered for low back pain or a jaw problem.
We have separate guides explaining how Dr. Jenn may use acupuncture for specific conditions:
Acupuncture for Lower Back Pain
Acupuncture for Sinus Tarsi Syndrome
Each of these articles focuses specifically on how acupuncture may be used for that particular problem rather than trying to replace our main condition-treatment pages.
What Happens at Your First Acupuncture Appointment?
Your first appointment with Dr. Jenn starts with a health history and assessment.
She wants to know what hurts, when it started, what aggravates it, what you have already tried and what appears to be causing the symptoms.
If acupuncture is appropriate, Dr. Jenn will explain the treatment and answer your questions before beginning.
When appropriate and informed consent has been completed, treatment can often begin during the first appointment.
You do not need to arrive knowing what acupuncture points you need.
That’s Dr. Jenn’s job.
Do You Need to Prepare for an Acupuncture Appointment?
There is very little special preparation required.
Wear comfortable clothing that allows Dr. Jenn to access the area being treated.
Depending on the condition, shorts or a loose shirt can make treatment easier.
You generally do not need to fast before acupuncture. Arriving normally hydrated and having eaten as you normally would is reasonable for most patients.
Make sure Dr. Jenn knows about relevant medical conditions, medications or health concerns before treatment begins.
Acupuncture Treatment With Dr. Jenn in Oakville
If you have been thinking about trying acupuncture but weren’t sure what an actual treatment involved, hopefully this makes the process a little less mysterious.
The treatment itself is generally pretty straightforward:
Assess the problem. Choose the appropriate treatment areas. Insert the needles. Add electrical stimulation when appropriate. Relax for a short period. Remove the needles. Reassess.
The important part is what happens before the needles go in.
Dr. Jenn’s goal is to understand the problem first and then determine whether acupuncture makes sense for you.
For complete information about the service, conditions treated and appointments, visit our main Acupuncture in Oakville page.
For answers about needles, safety, treatment frequency, insurance and common acupuncture questions, visit our Acupuncture Frequently Asked Questions.
Acupuncture provided by Dr. Jenn is billed under chiropractic coverage, and our front desk can direct bill many insurance companies when your individual plan allows it. Read more about our direct insurance billing and payment options.
Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre
1131 Nottinghill Gate
Oakville, Ontario L6M 1K5
Call: 905-827-4197
Text: 289-228-8858
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