Global Physiotherapy – Sherwood Park
Acupuncture Treatment
Physiotherapist Cindy Coneen: 30+ Years Experience
780-467-9098
State of the art physiotherapy equipment
one-to-one medical acupuncture treatment
Unit 148, 2693 Broadmoor Blvd., Sherwood Park
Global Physiotherapy – Contact Form
Medical Acupuncture is the insertion of fine solid needles to achieve a therapeutic effect. Medical acupuncture is taught to health care professionals who already have knowledge and experience with respect to musculoskeletal anatomy, neurophysiology and neuroanatomy. Cindy Coneen’s education was completed at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario over a five-month period in 2006. In Alberta, physiotherapists must have authorization on their practice permit to use dry needles to provide medical acupuncture.
Firstly, a global physiotherapy assessment will identify the areas of pain and mobility restrictions that are potential causes of the persistent symptoms. Outcome measures such as self-report tools, range of motion, strength and nerve conduction tests are combined with the patient history, visual analog scale (0-10) rating of pain and function and medication use.
Natural pain relief from Endorphins
The needle interacts with the layers of tissue in contact and the area of insertion. The nerves carrying information back to the spine are stimulated and relay information to the front of the spinal cord to influence the “hypothalamic-pituitary” system that releases beta-endorphin into the blood, cerebro-spinal fluid and gray matter of the brain (Kho, Robertson; American Journal of Acupuncture, 1997: 25(4): pp 261-281).
Blockage of Pain Information Transmission to the brain
Another chemical: Met-enkephalin is released from the first effect to prevent the spinal cord cells from receiving the pain information. This is accomplished by neurotransmitters: serotonin and noradrenalin. The treatment result is an increase in the pain threshold for the client. Therefore, it takes more painful stimulus to get a reaction. This is part of the “Gate Theory of Pain Modulation”.
Global Physiotherapy has a detailed form highlighting the risks and benefits of medical acupuncture to be discussed with your physiotherapist prior to treatment. You can change your mind at any time and alternative therapies are available such as laser acupuncture.
Your body position for treatment will be chosen for your comfort and access to the acupuncture points to be needled. The acupuncture needle sites should not be painful once the treatment set up is complete. You will be asked to identify any painful areas so the needle position can be adjusted or changed.
The duration of your first session can vary from five to fifteen minutes depending on your treatment response. It is common to be tired after acupuncture and you may notice some automatic nerve system responses such as increased sweating.
Electrical stimulation to acupuncture needles may be added after your first sessions to achieve longer lasting pain relief and improved muscle function. This is determined on a case-by-case basis with an analysis of the clinical problems and treatment response to medical acupuncture.
As a physiotherapist authorized to use dry needles, acupuncture is covered under physiotherapy benefits. Occasionally your benefits may allow for billing under acupuncture. However, most extended benefit companies distribute their coverage according to the profession of the practitioner and not the specific treatment. You can contact your benefit provider for the specific policy as it relates to your acupuncture coverage.
Cindy Coneen uses medical acupuncture combined with physiotherapy to provide a more comprehensive treatment plan to assist you to achieve your pain relief and mobility goals.
Global Physiotherapy – Sherwood Park
Acupuncture Treatment
Physiotherapist Cindy Coneen: 30+ Years Experience
780-467-9098
State of the art physiotherapy equipment
one-to-one medical acupuncture treatment
Unit 148, 2693 Broadmoor Blvd., Sherwood Park
Global Physiotherapy – Contact Form