FOCUS AREAS
LEGS
- Shin splints, both anterior and medial
- Achilles tendonitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Ankle sprain
- “Big toe” (1st MTP joint) osteoarthritis
- Morton’s neuroma
- Pes anserinus inflammation
- Metatarsalgia achilles bursitis
- Fat pad syndrome
SHOULDERS
Muscle strain, tears, tendonitis, and inflammation usually respond well to acupuncture. Other injuries that benefit include bicepital tendonitis, frozen shoulder, and shoulder impingement syndrome. Dr. Heide has effectively treated the following shoulder conditions:
- Supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendonitis
- AC joint separation, AC joint arthritis
- Bicepital tendonitis, biceps tendonosis
- Levator scapulae syndrome
- Stiff Neck
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Shoulder bursitis
- Pectoralis muscle syndrome
- Frozen shoulder
ARMS
- Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow, climber’s elbow)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arthritis of the wrist, hand, and finger joints
HIPS AND PELVIS
- Hip (trochanteric) bursitis
- Osteoarthritis of the hip joint
- Sacral-iliac joint dysfunction
- Piriformis syndrome
- The sacral-tuberous ligament
KNEES
- Ligament sprain (MCL, LCL).
- Patellar tendonitis
- Patello-femoral joint pain, chondromalacia
- Ilio-tibial band syndrome
BENEFITS OF SPORTS ACUPUNCTURE
SPORTS INJURIES
Sports Acupuncture enables treatment of chronic and acute sports related injuries and significantly reduces recovery time.
WEEKEND WARRIORS
Sports Acupuncture provides excellent recovery assistance for weekend warriors who need an extra boost.
HIGH PERFORMANCE
Sports Acupuncture helps deliver break-through healing for high performance, professional or collegiate athletes.
YOUNG ADULTS
Sports Acupuncture is a great option for young adults in high school sports who are injured and want to get back on the court.
What is dry needling?
Anjuna Medicine uses dry needling to stimulate the healing process of soft tissues to achieve pain relief and restoration of healthy physiology. Dr. Heide does this by inserting a thin filiform needle into distressed trigger points in the muscle to stimulate a muscle twitch, and ultimately, release. This technique is unparalleled at its ability to identify and eliminate neuromuscular dysfunction and pain. Research supports that dry needling improves pain, reduces muscle tension, and facilitates an accelerated return to active rehabilitation.
What is a “trigger point”?
A myofascial trigger point is a irritable point in a muscle that is associated with a hypersensitive nodule, or “knot”. This area can be stimulated to alleviate pain in a region that is painful for a patient.
What is the difference between acupuncture and dry needling?
Traditional acupuncture is based on the tenets of Traditional Chinese Medicine to align one’s chi, or energy. Dr. Heide expands upon these ideas with an understanding of anatomy and physiology, biomechanics and orthopedics to directly target and address specific points of pain with dry needling.
Does it hurt?
The needle used is very thin and most patients do not even feel it penetrate the skin. A healthy muscle feels very little discomfort with insertion of this needle, but if the muscle is sensitive with active trigger points within it, the subject will feel a sensation like a muscle cramp called the twitch response.
Are there any side effects to dry needling?
Side effects may vary among individuals. Mild muscle soreness or skin bruising are most common.
CONDITIONS TREATED
LOWER BACK AND NECK PAIN
Both the neck and low back are common patient complaints. Injuries include sprain, strain, bulging or herniated discs, and soft tissue injury. Due to the complexity of both the low back and the neck, we will treat only those patients that can be helped with acupuncture. Low back and neck pain must use an integrated approach, combined with complimentary modalities such as Chiropractic, PT, massage, and therapeutic exercises.
ARTHRITIS AND JOINT CONDITIONS
- Arthritis of the hip
- Osteoarthritis of the 1st metatarsal-phalanges joint (the“big toe”)
- AC joint arthritis and shoulder bursitis
- Knee osteoarthritis (anterior, medial, or lateral compartments)
- Arthritis of the smaller joints of the wrist, hand, and foot.
TENDONITIS
Commonly treated tendons include:
- The Achilles tendon
- Tennis elbow (inflammation of the extensor tendon of the forearm)
- Climber’s elbow (inflammation of the forearm flexor tendons)
- Shin splints–(tendinous inflammation to either the anterior or the medial compartment muscles)
OTHER PAIN SYNDROMES
Anjuna Sports Acupuncture may be considered a very effective modality for treating other injuries and pain syndromes. Those who might benefit from different modalities are referred to the best practitioners in the Anjuna network and referral system.