Maybe you’ve heard your friends talk about how they’ve been able to overcome their symptoms with the help of acupuncture. You’ve probably also heard about how this all-natural treatment method can reduce pain, alleviate inflammation, and improve range of motion. People from all walks of life, from athletes to manual laborers, have been able to find powerful relief with the help of acupuncture. But, just how long do the benefits of acupuncture last?
The effects of a single acupuncture session can last for days to weeks. Ongoing sessions allow your body to build new nerve pathways, resulting in long-term results that can last for months to years.
What are the benefits of acupuncture?
Acupuncture is pretty straightforward. As needles are inserted, they create tiny tears in the muscle fibers. This triggers an increase in blood flow to the needle site. As oxygenated red blood cells reach the damaged area, they provide tissues with the building blocks they need to repair the injury.
The improved circulation to the area doesn’t just stimulate healing, but it also allows the body to fight inflammation. The increased blood flow helps flush out pro-inflammatory cells, like cytokines, to keep heat, swelling, and pain to a minimum.
Overall, acupuncture works on multiple levels to treat an injury, whether it’s old or new, chronic or acute. Acupuncture is an invaluable tool for active individuals as it can be used to treat all manner of sports-related injuries. However, it’s worth noting that acupuncture can help fight other health conditions as well, including allergies, migraines, PMS, stress, and anxiety.
Acupuncture is effective because it supports the body’s ability to heal itself. This means it can be utilized in nearly any treatment plan, no matter what health issues you’re dealing with. The benefits of acupuncture are widespread, which is just one of the many reasons why it’s going mainstream in medicine.
How long do the benefits of a single acupuncture session last?
Now that you know a little bit more about how exactly acupuncture works, this naturally begs the question: how long do the benefits of acupuncture last?
The answer to this question varies quite a bit depending on the condition that’s being treated, as well as the severity of that condition. However, in general, the effects of a single acupuncture session can be expected to last anywhere from days to weeks.
If you’re struggling with an acute injury, such as a relatively mild muscle knot, then one acupuncture session may be enough to relieve the tension and restore your strength and flexibility. One or two acupuncture sessions following surgery (which may or may not be accompanied by massage to enhance the treatment’s effects) may also be sufficient to provide you with long-lasting relief.
On the other hand, if you’re dealing with a chronic condition, like plantar fasciitis, a single session may only relieve your symptoms temporarily. When it comes to ongoing inflammation, a consistent treatment strategy is the most effective means of managing your symptoms.
How many acupuncture sessions will you need for long-term relief?
Again, this is a difficult question to answer offhand. But while acute and/or minor injuries may be fully healed with only a handful of acupuncture sessions, chronic conditions are best managed with the help of ongoing acupuncture sessions. How many sessions you will need depends on the condition in question, as well as the severity of your symptoms. Generally speaking, the more intense your symptoms, the more acupuncture treatments you’ll need.
In some cases, your acupuncturist may recommend regular acupuncture treatments for a certain period of time — one session per week for three months, for example. After the initial series of treatments have been completed, you may only need a single treatment per month after that to keep your symptoms at bay.
Conditions like arthritis, or old injuries that never healed quite right, can be challenging to treat. Challenging, but not impossible. See, one of the benefits of acupuncture is that it has the ability to improve an injury by creating new microscopic injuries that engage the body’s healing capacity. Regular sessions can provide you with long-lasting relief, effectively managing your symptoms for months to years.
Your acupuncturist will work with you to help you determine how often you’ll need to get acupuncture to find relief from your symptoms. They may also recommend additional therapies, like dry needling, electrostimulation, or corrective exercise therapy to maximize your results and speed up your progress.
What can you expect during your acupuncture session?
Acupuncture is as easy as rolling off a log. All you need to do is show up to your appointment in some comfortable clothes, and get ready to relax!
First, your acupuncturist will ask about your health history to get a clearer picture of your condition. Next, they’ll devise a treatment plan that stimulates healing and aligns with your personal health and wellness goals.
Once your unique acupuncture strategy is in place, the session will begin. Your acupuncturist will begin placing needles at various points across your body, which will stay in place anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes on average. During this time, you’ll be advised to lay back and relax as the needles work their magic.
When your session is over, the needles will be removed, and you can be on your merry way. Your acupuncturist may advise you to perform a few simple stretches or to take it easy for the rest of the day, depending on your circumstances.
Booking an acupuncture appointment
Nervous about starting acupuncture? Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Contact our office to learn more about the wonderful benefits of acupuncture, and how this centuries-old holistic treatment method can improve your quality of life.
At Lycoming Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture, we’re committed to helping our patients achieve all of their health goals. From your first visit, we’ll help you get to the root of your health problems so you can finally start addressing your symptoms.
Book your appointment with us today and take the first step of your healing journey so you can get back to living a life you love.
