The most used drug in the world is caffeine. In the world of sports, it comes in the form of pill, powder, or the almighty Starbucks cup. Research has been done to show the effects it has on athletic performance. There are plenty of positive attributes for caffeine, but it is not always a great […]
Our last post was all about ice for injuries, you can check it out here. This week, I wanted to take a look at the recent research regarding cold immersion. Cold Immersion is boasted to aid in recovery, increase immunity, and be the cure-all for everything sports, but what does the research say? What kind
It is almost humorous that one of the easiest home care methods is also one of the most controversial in its application. From the standard R.I.C.E. to “Ice is for dead people” there are a lot of opinions on whether or not the application of cold for pain and injury is beneficial or just bad advice.
Frozen shoulder is a common shoulder pathology that can cause pain, decreased range of motion, disrupted sleep, and a decreased ability to perform basic daily activities. It is a frustrating complaint that has few treatment options from the standard care approach. As an acupuncturist focusing on shoulder pain, I have heard everything from “wait two
BY CELESTE HOUVENER LAC. Here is a brief overview of a few key points for maintaining the immune system at an optimal level. The first three are ones you may already know, I have elaborated and provided some insight into these. The final point relates to my area of expertise and may be new or
When it comes to trigger point needling in the shoulder one of the major muscles we have to address is subscapularis. It plays a unique role as the only rotator cuff muscle to perform internal rotation. It is also notoriously uncomfortable to access. In my days as a massage therapist, I found it was in
One of the most under-utilized techniques in the acupuncturist’s tool belt is manual therapy (Tui Na). This modality can be an extremely effective tool to decrease pain and increase range of motion immediately for a patient. Manual therapy is a modality every acupuncture practitioner spent a fair amount of time learning in school. Of course,
When patients receive trigger point needling for the first time it is often a significantly different experience than acupuncture treatments they have had in the past. The world of acupuncture is quite diverse with those practicing and favoring a variety of techniques based on their own clinical experience. Many patients that have experience with acupuncture
When we think of treating shoulder, elbow, and hand pain, many practitioners do not often consider Brachialis, however, it can be a very effective trigger point to treat. Considered a prime mover for elbow flexion, brachialis lays under the more commonly thought of biceps brachii. Brachialis originates from the lower half of the humerus (anterior
When we teach our courses one of the most common questions is about the intensity of needling. Specifically, how much mechanical irritation is needed to relieve a trigger point. This is, of course, a loaded question. There is a great deal of research that is done to try to answer this. The research will also