Integrative Acupuncture Center

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine serving Ridgewood and Paramus, NJ

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Positioning is Everything!!! What you need to Know about getting painless acupuncture treatments.

August 15, 2015 By Joshua Goldstein, Ridgewood Acupuncturist

Positioning is the hidden factor in painless acupuncture treatments
Positioning is the hidden factor in painless acupuncture treatments

In my acupuncture office in Ridgewood, NJ, I’ve coaxed many reluctant people through painless acupuncture sessions Many people fear the needle and this becomes a barrier for many to even look into trying acupuncture. But in actuality, the difference between getting a painful treatment and a pleasant one, is in the positioning, not just the needling.

By positioning, I mean the position that the body is placed in before receiving a treatment.

1) Things in life hurt less when you are flexible: The easiest way to prevent pain during an acupuncture visit, if you are needling into an arm, for example, is to keep the elbow slightly bent. To position the patient like this, I have them lay down on their backs, with their arms at their sides. I then slightly bend the elbow so there is a slight bend in the crook of the elbow. What this does is keep the muscles in a relaxed and “un-stretched” position. Inserting the needle in a relaxed muscle becomes painless. Contrast this to an elbow that is extended. If the muscles in the arm is tensed, the needle will bounce off of the tight, hardened muscles, causing the feeling of pain. By keeping the elbow flexed, you keep the muscles flexed, so the needle insertion doesn’t ram up against the tightness of the arm muscle.

 

2) A pillow more for your back: If you are getting treated in the lower back, it is very easy for tension to build in the lower back as the treatment progresses. This pain can build so the treatment becomes less and less comfortable. To avoid the discomfort by treating with needles in the lower back, again proper cushioning with pillows, under the waist,  help support the back muscles. To do this, I place a pillow or two under the waist. This causes the lower back to exaggerate it’s curve, which in turn, supports the lower back by flexing the lower back which helps open up the discs in the lower back. This helps to support the lower back so the effects of gravity are not bearing down over the lower back. This positioning technique helps take pressure off of the spine or discs.

 

3) Placing extra support under the arm: In some of my bigger patients, invariably one arm can dangle off of the table when they lay down. For others, depending on where they are needled on the arm, the arm needs a better position to avoid pain. So to fix this problem, I’ve placed alongside the body at a 60 degree angle to open up the upper muscles in the arm. To do this, I use a simple solution using a tray table with a pillow. Simply doing this helps to spread and rotate the arm outwards, so that there is enough “give” in the muscles to avoid tensing the muscles. This added space, is the added cushioning that is needed to help the body relax the arm in a comfortable flexed position.

So any acupuncturist worth their salt, realizes the importance of body positioning. Positioning the body correctly, can make acupuncture more painless. This becomes a big issue because so many people avoid acupuncture because they cringe at the needle. So I’ve highlighted the importance of positioning, a forgotten factor for more painless and effective acupuncture sessions.

Filed Under: Acupuncture

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Testimonials

I returned to this office for pain related to a sports injury. I had pain in the upper body region from boxing and sparing and was not getting relief from the medications prescribed to me from the orthopedist. My most recent injury was preventing me from even raising my arm to brush my teeth as well… Read more
Donna, Haworth, NJ
I had an L-5 fracture in my back, a broken ankle and arthritis in both ankles. Pain also existed in my lower back and ankles. I was referred to Integrative Acupuncture from my brother, who is a chiropractor, and through his website. Since seeing Joshua, my sleeping is 80% better. My lower back pain … Read more
Jim, Ridgewood, NJ
I cannot begin to thank Joshua enough for his help. My experience and results with him were wonderful. He is not focused on just helping you ameliorate your specific problems, but he also looks at everything else going on with your body rather than just one piece of you. He genuinely wants to help y… Read more
Dee, Hewitt, NJ
When I first came into see Joshua, I had pain in my foot from running. Previously, I had tried icing, rest, and stretching. When I tried the services from Integrative Acupuncture Center, I noticed the results were incredibly helpful. After just two sessions all pain in the targeted area was gone and… Read more
Rosesann, Ramsey, NJ
I have suffered from headaches all of my life between four to five times per week. I have gone to physicians and have only been prescribed medications for my headaches. The results were always the same, and I always felt foggy due to the medication. I was referred to Joshua’s office through a frie… Read more
Anthony, Paramus, NJ
My experience with him was phenomenal. He [Joshua Goldstein] is very good at what he does and he has a very well rounded approach to helping. I would recommend him to anyone, especially if they suffer from stress or aches.
Anastasia, Fairlawn, NJ
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Integrative Acupuncture Center
69 West Ridgewood Avenue
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Phone: 201.444.7150

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