Acupuncture at Pro Motion Healthcare in Barrie is given by Registered Acupuncturists (R. Ac). This page explains the techniques they use, what each one feels like, and what people most often come in for, so you know what to expect before your first visit.
Techniques used at the clinic
Every course of acupuncture starts with a consultation, and the technique is chosen with you. Many visits combine two or three of the methods below. If you are nervous about needles, say so: some of these use no needles at all.
Body acupuncture
The most familiar kind. Very fine, solid needles are placed at chosen points, often near where it hurts and sometimes further away, then left to rest for a while as you lie still. Points away from the sore area are part of what the clinic calls distal acupuncture, which uses the meridian map of traditional Chinese medicine to choose points on the hands, forearms or lower legs.
Ear and scalp acupuncture
Ear (auricular) acupuncture uses tiny points on the outer ear. The clinic offers an ear protocol known as battlefield acupuncture, a short set of points used for pain. Scalp acupuncture places needles flat along the scalp and is one of the methods people try alongside their medical care for nerve conditions.
Electro-acupuncture
After the needles are in, fine clip leads connect pairs of them to a small unit that passes a gentle current between them. You feel a light tapping, pulsing or buzzing, and the strength is set to what is comfortable for you. It is not used for people with a pacemaker, so tell your acupuncturist if you have one.
Laser acupuncture
A cold laser, a small handheld light, is held over each point instead of a needle. You feel nothing or a faint warmth. It suits people who would rather not be needled at all.
Cupping and gua sha
Cupping uses cups that create suction on the skin, usually over the back, shoulders or thighs. The cups stay on for about 5 to 20 minutes. Many people find it eases muscle tightness, and it often leaves round marks that fade over a few days. Gua sha uses a smooth-edged tool stroked along the skin over tight muscle, and can leave short-lived redness. The cupping article explains both in more detail.
What people come in for
Most people book for pain. Research on acupuncture is strongest for some kinds of pain, including low back pain, neck pain, knee osteoarthritis, tension headaches and migraine. It works best as one part of a plan that includes movement, exercise and the care your doctor recommends. How much it helps varies from person to person, and nobody can promise a result.
Headaches and migraines
Tension headaches often start in tight neck and shoulder muscles, so treatment usually works on those as well as points on the head and hands. People with migraine sometimes use a course of acupuncture alongside their doctor’s advice. Keep a headache diary for a few weeks before and during treatment: it helps you and your acupuncturist see whether anything is changing.
Neck and shoulder pain
A stiff neck from desk work or driving, or a shoulder that aches when you reach or lift, are among the most common reasons people book. Points in the neck, upper back and shoulder are often combined with electro-acupuncture or cupping, plus simple stretches you can do at home between visits.
Back pain and sciatica
Many people use acupuncture alongside exercise to help ease low back pain and the leg pain of sciatica. Your acupuncturist will ask about the pattern of your pain and check for warning signs first. If pain runs down the leg with numbness or weakness, or you lose bladder or bowel control, see a doctor or go to the emergency department right away.
Hip, knee and joint pain
Sore knees and hips, including osteoarthritis, tendon pain around a joint, heel pain, and the burning or tingling of peripheral neuropathy in the feet are all things people come in with. Treatment often combines points around the joint with points further away, and electro-acupuncture is sometimes added.
Stress, sleep and women’s health
Some people use acupuncture to help them relax, to support better sleep, or for menstrual cramps and menopause symptoms. Some use it alongside their medical care during fertility treatment; talk to your doctor too. Your acupuncturist will be honest about what the evidence does and does not show.
What a course of treatment looks like
- Consultation: your health history, symptoms and goals.
- A plan for you: which techniques, how often, and any lifestyle advice, explained before you consent.
- Treatment in a private room: the needles rest while you relax.
- Follow-up: your acupuncturist checks how you have been and adjusts the plan at each visit.
The clinic’s own guide is that a course is often around 4 to 8 sessions, though it depends on what you come in for and how you respond. Who you will see is set out on acupuncturist Barrie, and what the rooms are like on acupuncture clinic Barrie.
Tell your acupuncturist first
If you take blood thinners, are or may be pregnant, have a pacemaker or a bleeding disorder, or have fainted with needles before, say so at the consultation. It changes which points and techniques are used.
Comparing clinics and finding us
If you are weighing up clinics, the questions worth asking are on how to choose the best acupuncture in Barrie. If you are searching for acupuncture near me, that page lists approximate drive times from each Barrie neighbourhood to the clinic at 65 Cedar Pointe Dr, Unit 808A.
Not sure which technique suits you? Call and ask before you book.
Acupuncture at Pro Motion Healthcare is performed by Registered Acupuncturists (R. Ac), members of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO).
Coverage depends on your plan. Check your benefits booklet or call your insurer before you book.
Questions people ask
Which kind of acupuncture is right for me?
That is decided with you at the consultation, based on what you come in for and how you feel about needles. Many visits combine body acupuncture with electro-acupuncture or cupping.
Do the cupping marks hurt?
Usually not. The round marks look like bruises but are rarely tender, and they fade over a few days. Tell your acupuncturist if you have an event coming up where the marks would show.
Can I have acupuncture without needles?
Yes. Laser acupuncture uses a cold laser on the points, and acupressure uses the fingers. Cupping and gua sha use no needles either.
Is acupuncture for back pain covered by my plan?
If your plan has an acupuncture benefit, treatment by a Registered Acupuncturist is claimed under it, whatever the reason for your visit. Check your plan’s limits before you book.
Book a first visit
Tell us where it hurts