Acupuncture in Swansea, IL

If pain, muscle tightness, or irritation is keeping you from doing the things you enjoy, acupuncture may be one option to help your body calm down and move more comfortably.  At Peak Wellness Therapy in Swansea, Illinois, we use acupuncture as part of a practical, individualized approach to care.  Depending on your condition and comfort level, treatment may include traditional acupuncture, electroacupuncture, or a combination of techniques.  Our goal is simple: provide the right amount of treatment for the problem you have without making care more complicated than it needs to be.

Acupuncture uses very thin, sterile needles placed at carefully selected points of the body.  The needles are much smaller than the needles typically used for injections or blood draws.  Most patients describe treatment as surprisingly comfortable.  Once the needles are in place, many patients simply relax during the treatment.  Acupuncture may be used to help manage pain, reduce muscle tension, and improve how comfortably you move.

Acupuncture may be incorporated into care for a variety of musculoskeletal and pain-related conditions, including:

• Neck pain
• Low back pain
• Sciatica and leg symptoms
• Shoulder pain
• Hip and buttock pain
• Muscle tightness and trigger points
• Headaches
• Knee pain
• Tennis elbow
• Chronic muscle and joint discomfort

Your treatment recommendations will depend on the underlying problem, your examination findings, and how you respond to care.

Not every patient needs the same type of acupuncture.  Some patients respond well to traditional acupuncture alone.  For others, we may recommend additional stimulation of certain acupuncture points.  One of the techniques we use is called electroacupuncture.

Electroacupuncture begins much like traditional acupuncture.  Thin acupuncture needles are placed in specific areas, and a small device is connected to selected needles to provide gentle, controlled stimulation.  Patients typically describe the sensation as a mild tapping, pulsing, or muscle twitching sensation.  The intensity can be adjusted throughout treatment, and the goal is not to create an uncomfortable electrical sensation.

Think of electroacupuncture as an additional tool that allows us to stimulate a particular muscle, nerve pathway, or painful area more consistently than we could with the needle alone.

Not necessarily.  Electroacupuncture is simply one technique available to us.

Your treatment may include:

• Traditional acupuncture alone
• Electroacupuncture
• Acupuncture combined with other therapies

We explain what we are recommending before treatment so you know what to expect.

It is very common for new patients to be nervous about acupuncture.  Many have never had acupuncture before and are concerned that the needles will hurt.  Acupuncture needles are extremely thin, and treatment is generally very different from receiving an injection.

We also do not believe that you should have to "tough it out" during treatment.  Communication is important.  If something is uncomfortable, let us know and we can modify the treatment.

One advantage of receiving acupuncture at Peak Wellness Therapy is that acupuncture does not have to be used by itself.

Depending on the condition, your treatment plan may also incorporate therapies such as:

• Chiropractic care
• Non-surgical spinal decompression
• Class 4 laser therapy
• Rehabilitation exercises
• Stretching and mobility work
• Dry needling or other soft-tissue techniques

We select treatments based on what we believe is most appropriate for the individual rather than automatically giving every patient the same combination of services.

Before recommending acupuncture, we want to understand what is actually bothering you.  Your visit may include a discussion of your symptoms, health history, previous treatments, and activities that have become difficult because of your condition.  We may also evaluate areas such as your movement, strength, flexibility, posture, or orthopedic and neurological function when appropriate.  From there, we can discuss whether acupuncture appears to be a reasonable option for you and which style of treatment may be most appropriate.

There is no single number that is right for everyone.  Some problems are relatively recent and may respond within a shorter period of care. Long-standing or more complicated conditions may require additional treatment.  Rather than promising a specific result, we monitor how you are responding.

We want to see meaningful changes such as:

• Less pain
• Less muscle tightness
• Improved movement
• Better tolerance for sitting, standing, walking, or exercise
• Improved ability to perform the activities that brought you into the office

If you are not responding as expected, your treatment recommendations may be modified.

Most patients tolerate acupuncture very well.  You may feel pressure as a needle is inserted, followed by sensations such as warmth, heaviness or tingling.

No.  Electroacupuncture uses gentle, controlled stimulation.  Most patients describe it as a mild pulsing or tapping sensation. The intensity is adjustable based on your comfort.  If you a pacemaker or are pregnant, we cannot perform electropuncture.

No.  It is simply one form of treatment option.  Traditional acupuncture may be used by itself when appropriate.

Treatment time varies roughly between 20-30 minutes depending on the condition and the type of acupuncture being performed. We will explain what to expect before beginning care.

Yes.  When appropriate, acupuncture may be incorporated alongside other treatments.   Each therapy has a different purpose, so we determine the combination based on your individual condition rather than automatically performing everything at once.

No.  Acupuncture may be used for many different musculoskeletal pain conditions involving areas such as the neck, shoulders, hips, knees, feet, and extremities.

You do not have to know whether you need traditional acupuncture or electroacupuncture before coming in.  That is our job to determine with you.  If you are dealing with persistent pain, tight muscles, or a problem that has not responded the way you hoped to other treatments, schedule a consultation with Peak Wellness Therapy.

Peak Wellness Therapy

530 Fullerton Road Suite B
Swansea, Illinois  62226

Call our office or request an appointment to find out whether acupuncture may be appropriate for your condition.