What is Acupuncture?

During acupuncture, a specialist places very small needles into your skin at targeted locations on your body. The overall goal of acupuncture is to reduce pain while increasing blood flow, stimulating muscles and nerves throughout your body.

What to Expect During Your Acupuncture Appointment

Depending on your need for acupuncture treatment, such as chronic muscle pain or nausea during chemotherapy, the acupuncturist will place the needles at the points where you have the most pain, discomfort, or scarring.

Acupuncture is not painful; however, you may feel slight pressure as the needle is placed during treatment.

Following an acupuncture appointment, it is important to rest and drink lots of water to allow your body to maximize the relief provided by acupuncture.

Conditions Treated by Acupuncture

Acupuncture has proven to be an effective complementary treatment for many conditions, including:

• Acute and chronic pain
• Muscle spasms and spasticity
• Nausea from chemotherapy or pregnancy
• Tendonitis

Benefits of Acupuncture

 

 

Research has shown benefit from acupuncture in treating osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal pain and disorders, including:

• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Neurogenic bladder
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Plantar fasciitis
• Post-concussion syndrome
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Tennis elbow
• Whiplash injuries

In addition to the conditions listed above, acupuncture is known to reduce fatigue and contribute to overall wellness by triggering proper physiological responses.

Acupuncture has few side effects, and is an effective way to treat many types of pain. If pain medications have been a problem for you in the past, acupuncture may be a viable option.

Make an Appointment

Call 412-692-4400 for an appointment with a certified medical acupuncturist from UPMC's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.