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Sheddon Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic Oakville & Burlington

Sheddon Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic Oakville & Burlington

Sports rehabilitation and wellness acupuncture clinics in Oakville and Burlington

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Sports rehabilitation and wellness acupuncture clinics in Oakville and Burlington

For those recovering from sports injuries or surgery, rehabilitation is critical to improve outcomes, relieve pain and get them back to optimal performance. In addition to your standard physical therapy and massage therapy, consider adding acupuncture or intramuscular stimulation (IMS) to your recovery plan. Using these treatment methods can significantly reduce the need for prescription drugs and improve the quality of life in patients, especially those who suffer from chronic pain. Continue reading to find out what acupuncture can do for you.

Note: Are you an athlete or a weekend warrior living in Oakville or Burlington and you know you do not perform at your peak? Check with our physiotherapists from the Oakville and Burlington physio clinics.

What is acupuncture?

Western medical acupuncture is an adaptation from Chinese medicine using current knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology, and evidence-based medicine. It involves the insertion of fine needles into the skin to stimulate the nervous system.

Acupuncture acts by stimulating the nervous system, and its known modes of action include local, peripheral, and central nervous system effects. It is mainly used for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, myofascial trigger point pain, and postoperative pain.

How acupuncture treatment works

Acupuncture involves the release of the body’s energy or ‘chi’ through the stimulation of over 2000 vital points across 14 energy pathways. According to experts, the needles used in the process help in the release of the body’s natural painkillers – endorphins – as well as improving blood flow. As acupuncture affects the central nervous system, the process aids in the release of chemicals into the brain, spinal cord and muscles.

Using hair-thin needles, acupuncture experts stimulate points that may produce a slight ache or pressure. In certain situations, the needles may be heated before insertion or accompanied by a mild electric current that can energize or relax the patient. Given below are some of the specific body points that result in the flow of energy. These are known as channels or meridians.

1. Lung channel: Acupuncture performed on the channel can help relieve pain and disorders in the upper body such as asthma, sore throat or headaches.
2. Stomach channel: This channel is targeted to improve digestive issues, fatigue or anemia.
3. Heart channel: Heart disease or mental disorders such as hysteria and depression can be treated when acupuncture is used to treat this channel.

An extension of acupuncture is intramuscular stimulation (IMS). Using acupuncture-type needles, IMS is used by therapists to treat acute and chronic pain as well as movement impairments. This is achieved by targeting directly the trigger points that cause and refer pain. It is a very effective treatment of pain in its acute form.

Also known as Gunn IMS, this type of treatment does not target channels. Instead, the needles are inserted directly into the source of the pain such as the affected muscle. Usually, needles are inserted into the muscle and withdrawn immediately. In certain situations, however, the needles may remain in the affected area momentarily, depending on the severity of the pain. IMS is commonly used for myofascial pain syndromes such as:
1. Frozen shoulder
2. Tennis elbow
3. Headaches
4. Chronic muscle pain
5. Soft tissue disorders

Sheddon’s team of qualified practitioners will improve your optimal health

Sheddon’s Sports Medicine Acupuncture Providers treat various conditions including:

  • Pain due to spinal nerve entrapments
  • Lower back pain
  • Shoulder & neck pain
  • Knee pain
  • Post-operative pain
  • Musculoskeletal pain
  • General pain management and relief

Common questions about acupuncture

1. Is acupuncture treatment covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)?

Unfortunately, the OHIP does not cover acupuncture, but many extended health care plans will cover acupuncture and IMS services provided by chiropractors and physiotherapists.

2. Does acupuncture hurt?
The needles used for acupuncture are very thin and the majority of people feel little to no pain when inserted. While some people feel a temporary soreness, many feel energized or relaxed after their treatment. Due to the nature of trigger point release using needles (for IMS), this treatment method can cause more soreness post-treatment. This generally lasts 24-48 hours but the benefits can be substantial.

Sheddon Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic Oakville has a team of committed acupuncture providers and physical therapists who offer personalized care to people or athletes that are recovering from injuries or surgeries. We serve the Oakville, Milton, Mississauga, and Burlington areas and will coordinate with your work, coaches, trainers, and fitness instructions to speed up your recovery. Contact us for more information.

For more info, contact Sheddon Physiotherapy and Sports Clinics in Oakville and Burlington at 905-849-4576.

We are located only 6 min East of Oakville Place and 7 min from Oakville Go Station.

The Burlington physio clinic is located only 5 min west of Spencer Smith Park and 6 min north-west of Burlington Beach, on Plains Rd East.

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