Contemporary Medical Acupuncture & Dry Needling

Contemporary Medical Acupuncture (CMA) is a precise peripheral nerve stimulation technique, in which fine solid needles (acupuncture needles) are inserted into anatomically defined neurofunctional sites, and stimulated manually or with electricity for the therapeutic purpose of modulating abnormal activity of the nervous system and/or the endocrine, exocrine and immune systems, in pain syndromes, functional problems, and any diseases in which these modulatory mechanisms are available. Neuromodulation occurs through neurological and neurohumoral mechanisms at multiple levels, namely: peripheral nerves, spinal cord, brain stem, brain and cerebellum.

CMA is mechanism-based, not disease-based. Therapeutic goals and treatment targets are selected based on the identified neurological dysfunctions contributing to the clinical presentation of the symptoms. Sometimes CMA treatments result in transient amelioration or disappearance of the symptoms, and other times results in permanent resolution of the dysfunction, especially when dysregulation of the nervous system was the underlying pathophysiological mechanism.

Dry needling is a targeted technique used by our physiotherapists to release tight muscles and trigger points. It involves inserting a very thin, solid needle into affected muscles to elicit a ‘twitch response,’ which helps reset muscle function and reduce pain. While the procedure involves no injections and minimal discomfort, it can be highly effective for relieving both acute and chronic pain, supporting recovery, and improving movement.