Content Reviewed By: Jennifer Garven on September 21, 2026
Chiropractic License Number: 7345
Acupuncture in Oakville
Looking for acupuncture in Oakville? Dr. Jenn Garven provides contemporary medical acupuncture at Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre in Glen Abbey, Oakville.
Her approach focuses on the muscles, joints, nerves and painful areas identified during your assessment rather than using the exact same acupuncture points for every patient.
Dr. Jenn completed the Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program at McMaster University and has extensive training in anatomy, musculoskeletal injuries and pain.
Dr. Jenn can also provide appropriately modified acupuncture for selected musculoskeletal complaints during pregnancy. Read more about pregnancy acupuncture and chiropractic care in Oakville.
Acupuncture at our Oakville clinic is commonly used for problems including headaches and migraines, neck and back pain, TMJ and jaw pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, tennis elbow and sports injuries.
Depending on the condition, Dr. Jenn may use acupuncture on its own or combine it with other appropriate treatment options available at our clinic.
Oakville Acupuncture Frequently Asked Questions Video:
Acupuncture in Private Treatment Rooms
Acupuncture at Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre is provided in private treatment rooms at our Glen Abbey, Oakville clinic.
Acupuncture treatment is provided by Dr. Jenn Garven and is individualized based on the patient’s condition, health history, assessment and treatment goals.
A physician referral is not normally required to book an acupuncture appointment, although some extended health insurance plans may have their own reimbursement requirements.
Direct insurance billing is available for many extended health plans. Our clinic has free on-site parking, wheelchair-accessible entry and elevator access to our second-floor location.
Contemporary Medical Acupuncture in Oakville
Acupuncture has been used for hundreds of years and has its origins in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The approach used by Dr. Jenn is contemporary medical acupuncture, sometimes also described as neurofunctional acupuncture.
This approach uses a modern understanding of anatomy, muscles, joints and the nervous system when selecting where acupuncture needles are placed.
Rather than using the same combination of points simply because two patients have pain in the same location, Dr. Jenn first assesses what appears to be contributing to the problem.
For example, two patients can both walk into our Oakville clinic complaining of shoulder pain.
One may have significant rotator cuff and shoulder muscle involvement.
The other may have symptoms related to the neck or irritation of a nerve travelling into the arm.
Their symptoms may sound similar, but their acupuncture treatment may be completely different.
That is why assessment comes before treatment.
Learn more about Dr. Jenn Garven.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture uses very thin, sterile, single-use needles that are inserted into selected areas of the body.
In contemporary medical acupuncture, treatment points may be selected around painful muscles, joints, nerves and other anatomical structures depending on the patient’s symptoms and examination findings.
Acupuncture is thought to influence pain through several mechanisms involving the peripheral and central nervous systems. Research also suggests that acupuncture can affect local tissue responses and the body’s pain-modulating pathways.
From a practical standpoint, we use acupuncture as one treatment option for reducing pain and muscular sensitivity and helping patients move more comfortably.
It is not the answer for every condition, and not every patient coming into our Oakville clinic needs acupuncture.
The first job is figuring out what is causing the problem.
Conditions We Use Acupuncture For in Oakville
Dr. Jenn primarily uses acupuncture for musculoskeletal pain, headaches and sports-related conditions.
We have created more detailed resources for many of the problems we commonly see. These individual articles allow this main Oakville acupuncture page to remain focused on the service itself while giving patients more detailed information about their specific condition.
Acupuncture for Migraines and Headaches
Acupuncture is one treatment option that may be considered for patients experiencing recurrent migraine headaches and certain other headache presentations.
Learn more about acupuncture for migraines.
Acupuncture for Low Back Pain
Low back pain can involve muscles, joints, discs, nerves and surrounding structures.
When acupuncture is appropriate, Dr. Jenn selects treatment areas based on the patient’s examination rather than simply placing needles wherever the patient points to the pain.
Learn more about acupuncture for low back pain.
Acupuncture for Neck Pain
Tight and sensitive muscles surrounding the cervical spine and upper shoulders can contribute to neck pain and restricted movement.
Acupuncture can be incorporated into care when those tissues appear to be involved.
Learn more about acupuncture for neck pain.
Acupuncture for TMJ and Jaw Pain
Patients with TMJ complaints frequently have painful or overactive muscles around the jaw, temple and neck.
Dr. Jenn may use acupuncture around selected areas depending on the patient’s symptoms and examination.
Learn more about acupuncture for jaw and TMJ pain.
Acupuncture for Knee Pain
There are many different causes of knee pain, so diagnosis matters.
Acupuncture may be one part of treatment when painful muscles and surrounding tissues are contributing to the patient’s symptoms.
Learn more about acupuncture for knee pain.
Acupuncture for Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can originate from the rotator cuff, surrounding muscles, joints or even structures outside the shoulder itself.
Dr. Jenn selects acupuncture points based on the findings of the assessment.
Learn more about acupuncture for shoulder pain.
Acupuncture for Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow commonly involves pain around the outside of the elbow and the muscles and tendons of the forearm.
Acupuncture can be incorporated as one component of treatment when appropriate.
Learn more about acupuncture for tennis elbow.
Acupuncture for Ankle and Sports Injuries
Acupuncture can also be incorporated into the management of selected ankle and sports-related injuries.
Patients with recurring ankle sprains, muscular tightness or persistent pain may require treatment to different areas depending on what is found during the assessment.
Learn more about acupuncture for ankle sprains.
Patients experiencing persistent pain around the outside of the ankle may also want to read our detailed resource on acupuncture for sinus tarsi syndrome.
What Happens During an Acupuncture Appointment?
Your first acupuncture appointment at our Oakville clinic begins with a health history and assessment.
Want to see the treatment process in more detail? Read What to Expect During an Acupuncture Treatment with Dr. Jenn.
Dr. Jenn wants to determine:
- Where does it hurt?
- When did the problem start?
- What movements make it better or worse?
- Was there an injury?
- Are there neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling or weakness?
- What treatments have already been tried?
- Which muscles, joints or other structures appear to be involved?
- Is acupuncture appropriate for the problem?
When acupuncture is appropriate and informed consent has been completed, treatment can often begin during the first appointment.
Dr. Jenn then selects the areas to be treated and positions you comfortably before inserting the needles.
The number and location of needles varies depending on the patient and condition.
The needles generally remain in place for a short period while the patient relaxes.
Some patients barely notice the insertion.
Others feel a brief prick, pressure, heaviness or an aching sensation around a needle.
Treatment should always be performed with patient comfort in mind, and you can ask Dr. Jenn to stop or remove a needle at any time.
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
Acupuncture needles are extremely thin.
Many patients are surprised by how little they feel when the needles are inserted.
You may feel a small prick as a needle passes through the skin or a temporary aching, pressure or heavy sensation when a tight or sensitive area is treated.
That sensation normally settles quickly.
Acupuncture does not need to be intensely painful to be effective.
If something feels uncomfortable during treatment, tell Dr. Jenn. Needle location and depth can be modified based on your comfort.
What Is Electroacupuncture?
Electroacupuncture involves connecting selected acupuncture needles to a device that provides a controlled electrical stimulation.
The intensity is adjusted so the patient remains comfortable.
Dr. Jenn may use electroacupuncture in certain cases when she believes additional stimulation of the selected areas is appropriate.
It is not automatically used with every patient.
The decision depends on the condition, examination findings, patient preference and clinical judgment.
Traditional Acupuncture vs Contemporary Medical Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese Medicine and contemporary medical acupuncture both use thin acupuncture needles, but the reasoning used to select treatment points can be different.
Traditional Chinese Medicine may use a diagnostic framework based on traditional acupuncture theory and meridians.
Contemporary medical acupuncture uses modern anatomy, physiology and nervous-system function to help guide point selection.
Dr. Jenn’s training is through the McMaster University Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program.
For patients who specifically want to understand the style of acupuncture they are receiving, this distinction is important.
Our Oakville clinic primarily uses acupuncture for pain, muscle and joint problems and sports-related conditions rather than attempting to use acupuncture as a treatment for every medical condition.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Acupuncture is generally considered safe when it is performed appropriately by a properly trained healthcare professional using sterile, single-use needles.
Minor temporary effects can occur.
These can include:
- mild soreness
- tenderness around a needle site
- minor bruising
- a small amount of bleeding
- temporary light-headedness
Serious complications are uncommon, but acupuncture still involves inserting needles through the skin.
That is why proper training, a strong understanding of anatomy, sterile technique, informed consent and appropriate patient assessment matter.
Patients should tell Dr. Jenn about relevant medical conditions, medications, pregnancy or other health concerns before acupuncture begins.
For more detailed information about acupuncture research, effectiveness and safety, visit the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
Acupuncture Insurance and Direct Billing
Our Oakville clinic offers direct insurance billing to many major extended health insurance providers when the patient’s individual plan allows it.
Coverage, deductibles, annual maximums and reimbursement rules vary significantly between policies.
Our front desk team can help with the direct-billing process, but patients remain responsible for confirming the details of their individual insurance coverage.
Meet Dr. Jenn Garven
Dr. Jenn Garven provides contemporary medical acupuncture at Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre in Oakville.
Dr. Jenn completed the McMaster University Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program and incorporates acupuncture into the management of selected muscle, joint, headache and sports-related conditions.
Her approach is straightforward:
Figure out what is causing the problem first. Then decide whether acupuncture makes sense.
Not every patient needs acupuncture.
For some patients, acupuncture may be the primary treatment they are looking for.
For others, Dr. Jenn may combine acupuncture with hands-on care, rehabilitation or other appropriate treatment options available at our clinic.
The treatment should fit the patient rather than forcing every patient into the same treatment protocol.
Oakville Acupuncture Frequently Asked Questions
What is acupuncture used for at your Oakville clinic?
Dr. Jenn primarily uses acupuncture for muscle and joint pain, headaches and sports-related conditions.
Common examples include neck pain, low back pain, migraines, TMJ pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, tennis elbow and selected ankle injuries.
Whether acupuncture is appropriate depends on the patient’s symptoms and examination findings.
Who provides acupuncture at your Oakville clinic?
Acupuncture is provided by Dr. Jenn Garven, who completed McMaster University’s Contemporary Medical Acupuncture Program.
What type of acupuncture does Dr. Jenn use?
Dr. Jenn primarily uses contemporary medical acupuncture, which applies modern anatomy, physiology and nervous-system concepts when selecting treatment points.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most patients tolerate acupuncture very well.
Some people feel almost nothing during insertion, while others experience a brief prick, pressure or temporary aching sensation.
How many acupuncture needles are used?
There is no standard number.
The number and location of needles depends on the condition being treated, the areas involved and the individual patient.
How long does an acupuncture appointment take?
Appointment length can vary, particularly on the first visit because an assessment is required before treatment.
The needles themselves commonly remain inserted for only part of the appointment.
Can acupuncture be combined with other treatments?
Yes.
When appropriate, Dr. Jenn may use acupuncture on its own or as one part of a broader treatment approach.
Is acupuncture covered by insurance?
Many extended healthcare plans provide some form of coverage for treatment provided at our clinic.
Every insurance policy is different, so patients should confirm their individual coverage.
Do you offer direct billing?
Yes.
Our clinic offers direct billing to many major extended health insurance companies when the patient’s plan permits it.
Learn more about direct insurance billing.
Do I need a referral for acupuncture?
A physician referral is not normally required to book an appointment with Dr. Jenn.
Some extended health insurance policies may have their own reimbursement requirements, so patients should check their individual plan if they are unsure.
Book Acupuncture in Oakville
If you are looking for acupuncture in Oakville, the first step is determining why you are experiencing the problem and whether acupuncture is an appropriate option for you.
Dr. Jenn provides contemporary medical acupuncture at:
Nottinghill Family Wellness Centre
1131 Nottinghill Gate
Oakville, Ontario L6M 1K5
Call: 905-827-4197
Text: 289-228-8858
Book an Acupuncture Appointment
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Content Reviewed By: Jennifer Garven on September 21, 2026
Chiropractic License Number: 7345