Acupuncture for Muscle Tension + Pain: What to Expect at Your Appointment
Photograph by Dylann Hendricks via Unsplash
Muscle tension and pain are some of the most common reasons that people come to me for acupuncture. While the treatment given depends on the patient, the foundation of my approach often uses similar therapeutic techniques to support the body’s recovery. Here’s a general overview about what you can expect during a visit with me and how it can be effective.
1 — Intake: Beginning Your Acupuncture Session
Before getting started with the treatment, we’ll spend a few minutes talking about what’s going on and why. If you’re a new patient, I’ll also gather any additional information regarding your health and medical history. Then, I’ll go over the methods of treatment that I use as well as a treatment plan and answer any questions that you may have. For established patients, this part moves through much faster. We’ll touch base on how you’re doing and I’ll modify the treatment from there as needed.
2 — Treatment: How Acupuncture Addresses Muscle Tension + Pain
After examining the area(s) of concern, I’ll get started with a treatment centered around your individual needs at the time. Through the lens of Chinese medicine, tight muscles and pain can be related to stagnation of qi and blood, so I often integrate acupuncture, cupping, and other manual therapies to open the local area(s) and get things moving. I also look for ashi points, or certain spots that are tight or tender to the touch, and release them if I can. This helps to further unblock what’s stuck and make space for relief. Each technique is layered throughout the session, allowing me to feel the body’s response as I work on it.
3 — After Care: What To Expect Post-Acupuncture Treatment
When coming in for acupuncture, it’s important to know that feeling better may take time, and in some cases you might experience soreness or discomfort following a treatment. While it can be different for everyone, being consistent is essential to making progress and maintaining results — and more often than not, follow-ups are necessary when treating muscle tension and pain. Based on your feedback and what I observe, I’ll give you an idea of what that looks like as well as any other recommendations that I have and we’ll go from there. After your treatment, you may feel the difference right away and/or notice changes over the next few days. I always suggest to take it easy and give the body time to rest.
Ready to try acupuncture for muscle tension + pain?