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ACUPUNCTURE The term "acupuncture" describes a family of procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical points on the body using a variety of techniques. Practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years, acupuncture is one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In TCM, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yang. The concept of two opposing yet complementary forces described in traditional Chinese medicine. Yin represents cold, slow, or passive aspects of the person, while yang represents hot, excited, or active aspects. A major theory is that health is achieved through balancing yin and yang and disease is caused by an imbalance leading to a blockage in the flow of qi. Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle. According to TCM, health is achieved by maintaining the body in a "balanced state"; disease is due to an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of qi. In traditional Chinese medicine, the vital energy or life force proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin and yang (vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. Qi can be unblocked, according to TCM, by using acupuncture at certain points on the body that connect with these meridians. Sources vary on the number of meridians, with numbers ranging from 14 to 20. One commonly cited source describes meridians as 14 main channels "connecting the body in a web-like interconnecting matrix" of at least 2,000 acupuncture points. The acupuncture technique that has been most often studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some people feel energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed. The modern system of acupuncture based on ear points, auriculotherapy, was developed in the XX century by a French neurologist Dr. Nogier. According to the principles of auricular therapy, each area of the ear corresponds to a different anatomical portion of the body. A large number of sites have been identified on the ear which become spontaneously tender or otherwise react to the presence of disease or injury elsewhere in the body. These sites are reportedly consistent from one individual to the next. Stimulation of these ear points in time exerts certain therapeutic effects on those parts of the body with which they are associated. Our clinic employs both acupuncture and auricular therapy. SOFT LASER THERAPY Soft laser therapy (also known as cold laser therapy and laser biostimulation) is a cutting edge medical technique in which exposure to infrared laser light is used to elicit beneficial clinical effects. The Food and Drug Administration granted approval to market several infrared lasers ‘for temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain, arthritis, muscle spasm, relieving stiffness and promoting relaxation of muscle tissue.’ Based on the power of generated energy, all lasers are divided into several classes from the least powerful class 1 to the most powerful class 4. Our clinic possesses several powerful therapeutic class 3B and class 4 lasers emitting both pulsed and continuous monochromatic light. Laboratory studies suggest that infrared lasers stimulate collagen production, modify DNA synthesis, and normalize the function of damaged neurological tissue. Several mechanisms underlying therapeutic effects with LLLT have been suggested. These include:
Institute for Specialized Medicine utilizes acupuncture and soft lasers almost exclusively for regional musculoskeletal conditions such as:
Our advanced protocols combine acupuncture, soft laser therapy and customized soft tissue and joint injections to optimize the outcome of therapy for chronic musculoskeletal diseases. |
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