Acupuncture

At Compass Pain and Wellness, our physicians work with licensed acupuncturists who carefully evaluate each patient’s symptoms and goals to create a personalized treatment plan.

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UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENCE

What is acupuncture?

Ancient Healing

Acupuncture is a safe, minimally invasive therapy rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, involving the insertion of thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body. In traditional Chinese medicine, these points, often called acupoints, are believed to be located along energy pathways known as meridians. By stimulating acupoints, acupuncture helps reduce inflammation and promote the body's natural healing processes.

Evidence-Based Mechanism

From a Western medicine perspective, these acupoints often correspond to nerve bundles, muscle trigger points, or vascular structures. Stimulation of these points has been shown to activate endogenous pain-relief pathways, including the release of endorphins, modulation of neurotransmitters, and improved blood flow, providing a repeatable scientific explanation for the effects observed in traditional practice[^1][^2].

Comprehensive Pain Relief

At Compass Pain and Wellness, acupuncture is used as part of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary pain management plan. Our practitioners work closely with physicians, physical therapists, and other care team members to enhance mobility, reduce chronic pain, and improve quality of life. Acupuncture is frequently used to help patients tolerate physical therapy, where it's been demonstrated to support recovery from increased rehabilitation.

history

The History of Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been practiced for over 2,000 years, originating in ancient China as a central component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Historically, it was used to restore balance in the body’s energy, or “Qi,” and treat a wide range of ailments including pain, digestive disorders, and stress-related conditions.

Over time, acupuncture spread worldwide and has been studied extensively in modern medicine, with evidence supporting its efficacy in pain management, neurological conditions, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation^{[^3]}. Modern researchers have found that stimulating acupoints can trigger neurophysiological changes, such as activation of spinal and brain pain-inhibitory circuits, which correlates with the traditional Eastern concept of meridians as energy pathways^{[^4]}.

At Compass, we combine this ancient wisdom with modern medical knowledge, integrating acupuncture into our evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to ensure patients receive the most effective, personalized care.

advantages

What Symptoms and Conditions Can Acupuncture Treat?

Acupuncture is used to manage a variety of pain-related and functional conditions, often complementing traditional medical treatments.

Common conditions treated at Compass include

Chronic musculoskeletal pain (neck, back, shoulder, hip, and knee pain)
Migraines and tension headaches
Neuropathic pain including diabetic neuropathy and post-herpetic neuralgia
Post-surgical pain and recovery
Stress-related or functional disorders, such as insomnia or anxiety

Western research evidence:

A 2018 meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open found that acupuncture significantly reduced chronic pain in patients with musculoskeletal and joint disorders^{[^5]}.
Studies have also demonstrated efficacy in migraine prevention, with acupuncture reducing both frequency and intensity of headaches^{[^6]}.

Who is a Good Candidate for Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is appropriate for a wide range of patients seeking pain relief, improved function, or complementary care. Ideal candidates include those who:

Experience chronic pain that has not fully responded to medications or other therapies
Are interested in minimally invasive, drug-free treatment options
Want to enhance recovery after procedures or rehabilitation
Have conditions such as neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal injuries, or stress-related symptoms

At Compass, each patient receives a personalized evaluation to ensure acupuncture is safe and appropriate, and our practitioners coordinate care directly with your physician and physical therapist to maximize outcomes.

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the process

What to Expect When Receiving Acupuncture

Acupuncture sessions at Compass are designed to be comfortable, relaxing, and individualized. Typical session process:

Consultation
Review of your medical history and pain symptoms with a licensed acupuncture practitioner.
Point Selection
Identification of specific acupoints relevant to your condition. Traditional acupoints are selected based on Eastern diagnostic principles, while Western interpretation guides targeted nerve, muscle, or vascular stimulation.
Needle Placement
Depending on your selected acupoints, you’ll lay on your stomach or back on a comfortable heated table in a calming room. Your acupuncturist will insert thin, sterile needles at your designated points. You may feel a gentle tingling or mild pressure, but needle insertion is generally not noticeable, and discomfort is usually minimal.
Treatment Session
Needles are left in place for 15–30 minutes, during which patients often experience relaxation and tension relief. Your provider may alter your needles and provide additional time, and will eventually remove the needle once your treatment is over.
Completion
Patients typically leave relaxed, often with an improvement in symptoms. Patients may also receive adjunctive therapies such as PEMF or red-light therapy during or after the session to enhance the therapeutic effect, particularly for pain relief, nerve regeneration, and tissue healing.

integrated approach

How is Acupuncture Part of an Integrated Rehabilitation Approach?

At Compass, acupuncture is not used in isolation but as part of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program.

Acupuncture can reduce pain and muscle tension, making it easier to participate in physical therapy and strengthening exercises.
It can be combined with interventional procedures, medications, and adjunctive modalities like PEMF and red-light therapy to enhance recovery and long-term outcomes.
Our physicians coordinate directly with your physical therapist, ensuring acupuncture sessions complement your rehabilitation plan and improve function, mobility, and quality of life.

This integrative approach allows patients to maximize the benefits of each therapy and address both the symptoms and underlying causes of pain.

PROVEN OUTCOMES

What Kind of Results Can You Expect

Patients often notice gradual improvement in pain, mobility, and overall well-being after a series of acupuncture sessions.

Immediate effects may include reduced muscle tension, decreased headache frequency, relief from localized pain, relaxation and a general sense of ease.
Cumulative benefits over multiple sessions may include enhanced circulation, improved nerve function, and better tolerance of physical therapy exercises.
Results vary depending on the condition, severity, and individual response, but acupuncture is widely recognized as a safe, effective complement to conventional pain management and rehabilitation therapies^{[^7]}.

the Compass Difference

Your Complete Care Team

At Compass, our goal is to integrate acupuncture into a holistic plan, allowing patients to achieve lasting relief, improved function, and greater quality of life.