Choosing acupuncture as part of your wellness routine is a smart move. With the careful placement of needles, an acupuncturist helps alleviate tension, reduce stress, restore balance, improve circulation, and support long-term health.
Muscles, Bones and Joints Pain
The muscles, bones, and joints are known collectively as the musculo-skeletal system. A common result of disease or damage to this system is pain. Rheumatism and arthritis are sometimes used to describe this type of pain. Some rheumatic diseases generally respond well to acupuncture while non rheumatic diseases are not as successfully treated by acupuncture. It is important to clarify what conditions are collectively known as rheumatic, as they generally respond positively to acupuncture treatment.
There are three main types of damage that occur to the musculo-skeletal system. A sudden injury or sprain could be incurred through a domestic injury, a sports injury, or a car accident. These types of damage generally result in localized pain and bruising that may last from a few days to a few weeks. Another ailment that fits this category is arthritis. Arthritis can be divided into Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.
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Osteoarthritis is more common than rheumatoid arthritis and can be likened to ’wear and tear‘ damage to a joint. It generally occurs in older people and tends to affect the spine (neck and lower back), hips, knees, elbows, and shoulders. The exact cause of Osteoarthritis is currently unknown, but two factors such as heredity or severe localized damage such as a broken bone injury sustained early in life are facilitators of the disease. Osteoarthritis generally develops in one or two of the main weight bearing joints of the body, but usually does not affect all joints of the body. The pain caused by osteoarthritis varies in intensity: osteoarthritis in the knee may cause extreme pain in the area or moderate to minimal pain.
An X-ray of an osteoarthritis joints appears ragged and shows some joint destruction but does not accurately represent the pain suffered from the condition. Joint destruction that is easily observable on the X-ray does not necessarily correlate with severe pain. Conversely, a patient may suffer from severe pain while the X-ray reveals moderate or minimal joint destruction. The primary complaint with Osteoarthritis is pain, which hinders mobility and limits joint movement.
Rheumatoid arthritis is rarer than Osteoarthritis and is indicative of an entirely different disease process. The small joints in the hands and feet that do not bear weight are affected by an active destructive process. This process is poorly understood and can occasionally result in joint deformity.
Sprains
Sudden injuries or sprains generally respond well to acupuncture. A shoulder sprain may result in pain for days or weeks after the initial injury. Acupuncture can be used to alleviate this type of pain once a definitive diagnosis has been made. Many of these ’acute pains‘ represent a self limiting disease process. An example of this would be the excruciating pain suffered at the initial onset of a burn. This pain gradually subsides and lessens as more time passes- generally the pain is gone after a few days. If acupuncture is utilized as a pain relief technique for the burn, the ’pain relieving effect‘ that acupuncture can provide would only be required for a few days.
The reported experience from a variety of acupuncturists indicates that approximately 70% of acupuncture patients experience swift and significant pain relief from a spectrum of acutely painful conditions. Acupuncture is more effective in treating pain caused by strain or tear in the muscles, tendons or ligaments. Acupuncture on an area of the body which contains a fractured bone would yield less effective pain relief for the patient. The main advantage of treating chronic pains with acupuncture is the prevention of chronic pain. A sudden shoulder injury may result in pain and immobility for months or years, but the utilization of acupuncture in the area may hinder or prevent chronic pain. Adequate statistical research is still lacking in proving the exact level of effectiveness that acupuncture has on treating or alleviating ’acute pain.‘ Both the West and China support the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic pain through ’clinical impressions,‘ but the current lack of empiric statistical research currently hinders the validity of acupuncture as an effective treatment for pain.
Osteoarthritis Symptom
Osteoarthritis and the rheumatic pains that result from the disease are common symptoms. Patients who suffer from this disease often state that arthritic knee pain is more pronounced in cold or damp weather. The pathogen in osteoarthritis is almost always cold or damp and can be treated by the application of heat to the area. This correlation represents the origin of the concept of pathogens in Chinese medicine.
A great deal of research has been conducted to investigate the effects of acupuncture on the pain caused by osteoarthritis with varying degrees of success. Clinical trials involving acupuncture on the knee, hip, elbow, neck, and lower back have yielded a 70% success rate of significantly reducing pain in the area. Other clinical trials have yielded widely varying success rates- some at a 50% success rate while others show a success rate as high as 95%.
The alleviation of osteoarthritis pain through acupuncture is not permanent. The current research states that the pain relief from acupuncture may diminish after approximately six to nine months. Some patients report pain relief for up to two years, but the majority of patients will require another acupuncture treatment session about six months after their initial treatment to ensure continued pain relief. Subsequent treatment is generally as effective as the initial acupuncture treatment.
Osteoarthritis is a disease that inherently causes intermittent pain and discomfort. Patients that suffer from osteoarthritis may be pain free for nine months, and then experience pain in the area for six consecutive months. Since the pain intensity with this disease fluctuates, the natural history of this particular disease process must be considered when calculating the effectiveness of acupuncture as pain treatment for this disease. Acupuncture has been described as embodying a ’magic quality‘ that pain pills do not posses. It can be difficult to differentiate between the perceived ’magic qualities‘ of acupuncture described by patients and the actual physiological benefits of acupuncture. Despite this, acupuncture has been deemed a safe and effective treatment for osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
The beneficial effects of acupuncture as treatment for rheumatoid arthritis are somewhat convoluted. During the initial, acute, and inflammatory stage of rheumatoid arthritis, some evidence suggests that acupuncture may actually exacerbate the pain. For this reason, most acupuncturists will not treat acute rheumatoid arthritis. After a period of time, the acute inflammatory stage subsides and the residual joint destruction may cause the development of a secondary osteoarthritis. This type of pain responds favorably to acupuncture.
Chronic pain caused by disease of the musculo-skeletal frequently responds favorably to and can be alleviated by acupuncture. Current published research suggests that acupuncture is effective in treating pain regardless of how much time has passed. The research suggests that whether the patient has experienced pain for a few months or many years, acupuncture may be utilized as an effective treatment option.
Headaches and Migraines
Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors such as: arthritis of the neck, dental issues, sinusitis, stress, tension, and head injures. Headaches have been categorized in separate section as they are quite common and encompass many of the body systems.
Migraine is a particular type of headache which includes symptoms such as: severe incapacitating pain, nausea, vomiting, and visual patterns or flashes in front of the eyes. Migraines can be induced by stimuli such as foods, noise, and stress. Some patients believe that severe ’tension headaches‘ are migraines. This is due to an unclear distinction between migraines and other types of headaches. Generally, migraine headaches can best be defined as a severe headache accompanied by nausea.
Headaches are a common ailment and are notoriously difficult to treat as the exact cause of the headache often remains elusive. Acupuncture has been effective in treating pain caused by a variety of different types of headaches, particularly migraines. Published research suggests that 65-95% of headache patients receive significant and long lasting pain relief from acupuncture treatment. Migraines appear to respond particularly well to acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture treatment for headaches may completely alleviate headache pain, or significantly decrease the frequency and intensity of headache pain. The pain relief obtained through acupuncture treatment is generally long lasting and subsequent treatment for headaches is required infrequently.
About Town of Oakville
Nestled along the shores of Lake Ontario, Oakville is a charming town in southern Ontario known for its blend of urban sophistication and natural splendor. The town is peppered with lush parks and green spaces, such as the renowned Coronation Park, where residents can enjoy lakeside picnics, strolls along the boardwalk, and family-friendly activities in the park’s open fields. Bronte Creek Provincial Park, with its expansive trails and historic farmstead, offers a year-round escape into nature, attracting hikers, bikers, and wildlife enthusiasts alike. These green spaces contribute to Oakville’s reputation as one of the most beautiful suburban towns in Ontario.
Oakville is also home to a variety of vibrant neighborhoods, each with its distinct personality. Bronte Village, located along the water, is known for its cozy restaurants, marina, and community-centered events. The historic Downtown Oakville area offers a mix of trendy boutiques, gourmet dining, and waterfront parks, making it a perfect destination for both locals and visitors. Eastlake, with its stately homes and tree-lined streets, is a quiet, upscale neighborhood ideal for families seeking tranquility and access to excellent schools. From the lively spirit of Kerr Village to the upscale charm of Morrison, Oakville’s neighborhoods each offer a unique experience, making it a desirable place to live or visit.
- Dundas Street (Highway 5)
- Trafalgar Road
- Lakeshore Road
- Speers Road
- Third Line
- Upper Middle Road
- Bronte Road
- Royal Windsor Drive
- Winston Churchill Boulevard
- Ford Drive
- Dorval Drive
- Rebecca Street
- Great Lakes Boulevard
- 16 Mile Drive
- QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way)
- North Service Road
- South Service Road
- Maple Grove Drive
- Burnhamthorpe Road
- Glenashton Drive
- West Oakville
- Falgarwood
- Kerr Village
- Clearview
- West Oak Trails
- Bronte
- Palermo
- Ennisclare Park
- Glen Abbey
- Uptown Core
- Oakville East L6K
- Oakville South L6L
- Oakville North L6H
- Oakville West L6M
- Oakville Northeast L6J