What do we regard as an orthopedic problem?
An orthopedic problem is a condition that affects one or more of our limbs, in which we either experience pain or a restriction in movement. It typically manifests itself as a problem with the musculoskeletal system, though it often reflects problems that originate in other systems.
How do we treat such conditions in our clinic?
The main treatment methods used for orthopedic conditions are acupuncture, movement lessons, manual therapy traditional Chinese herbs and nutritional supplements.
How Does Acupuncture Help with Orthopedic Issues
Though we do not yet have a full explanation of the mechanism that makes acupuncture so effective using western scientific terminology, we do have partial explanations for some of its effects. Needles affects the muscles directly, they work on the nervous system, and through our hormonal system. By manipulating these gently aligns and regulates the functionality of other systems as well.
The following are the ways in which the acupuncturist treats orthopedic issues:
Meridian Therapy
Though the meridians maintain other, more complex qualities, they are also lying along lines that roughly follow the muscular and biomechanical structure of our body. By stimulating points along the meridians we can normalize unwarranted buildups and deficiencies along these lines. Furthermore it is possible to balance between weak and overcharged tissues so as to discharge of pain or support with atrophy.
Using needles we can release taut muscles, stimulate waned muscles and even fine adjust the patient’s posture.
A surprising aspect of meridian therapy is that since some of the meridians can be very long- some of them can start in the head and end at the toes- often we can needle in a location that is far away from where the pain is and affect the pain nevertheless.
In Japanese acupuncture, as an example, the intention is to needle sensitive points only after they were rendered insensitive first through the use of systemic and meridian points.
Systemic Treatment
Some of our localized aches and pains are simply a manifestation of a wider problem that affects us in a broader manner. Often treating these problems directly allows us not only to rid ourselves of the specific pain we suffer from, but also from an array of other issues, some of which we didn’t even consider to be related.
One of the best examples of a systemic treatment is of pain that come as a result of unresolved mental stress that causes our body (among other things) to contract our muscles so tightly that they cause pain and can no longer extend the way they should. Though we could simply work on the taut muscle, if we can release either the source of tension or the way our body deals with it we would achieve better results that will serve us better in the long run, since it resolves a deeper problem that had we not addressed directly may have surfaced elsewhere, in the form of a different problem.
Taking care of systemic issues also makes the local points we use to treat the orthopedic issue more effective by by improving the flow of energy through the meridians.
In Japanese acupuncture, the treatment typically start by addressing what is considered a base treatment. Once the base treatments are addressed, and if the orthopedic pain has not passed yet, only then do we address the local pain.