Visit our renowned clinic for acupuncture in Trail, B.C.

Acupuncture is a safe and versatile treatment method that can be used to address almost any symptom or disease. This modality is a 3,000-year-old healing technique of Traditional Chinese Medicine with documented and publicized safety and efficacy.

Here at the Institute of Movement, we offer both Traditional Chinese Medicine and neuromuscular-based acupuncture styles, depending on what it is that requires treatment. Most conditions we encounter at the clinic are related to musculoskeletal and/or neurological dysfunction and pain.

With our multidisciplinary approach, acupuncture often plays an important role in furthering pain relief and increasing the effectiveness and longevity of relief from chiropractic treatments. Acupuncture treatments are used intermittently between chiropractic treatments for long-term relief, and for healing the multitude of other imbalances and symptoms occurring simultaneously (which can often prevent optimal healing).

Julia Maniecki is our acupuncturist on staff.

Call to book an appointment for acupuncture in Trail, B.C.

To book an acupuncture treatment or inquire about other approaches offered at our clinic, call the Institute of Movement at 250-368-5528.

Client reviews for the Institute of Movement in Trail, B.C.:

“Very knowledgeable, caring and helpful with my chronic back problems and my feet problems. Thank God for them!!” ~ Brenda, Google reviewer

“Quality treatment with great results.” ~ William, Google reviewer

“Great back work - came in pain left happy.” ~ DJ, Google reviewer

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture improves the body’s function and balance by promoting natural self-healing processes through the stimulation of specific anatomical sites called acupoints.

The most common method used to stimulate these acupoints is the insertion of very fine, sterile, single-use needles into the skin (acupuncture). Other methods use pressure, suction, heat and electrical stimulation to further enhance the effects needed at these acupoints, based on the underlying conditions and disease. Additional or alternative acupoint stimulation techniques include cupping, laser acupuncture, manual tuina massage and moxibustion heat therapy.

What makes acupuncture such a valuable addition to a health and wellness plan?

While it’s been an integral part of health care for centuries in other parts of the world, acupuncture is finally starting to gain momentum in North America. Hundreds of clinical studies on the benefits of acupuncture show that it successfully treats conditions ranging from musculoskeletal problems (back pain, neck pain, frozen shoulder, sciatica, sprains and strains) to migraines, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, autoimmune conditions, gastrointestinal dysfunctions and infertility—the list is nearly endless.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is actually an entirely independent and complete diagnostic and therapeutic system of its own. Through this platform, we can provide an entirely different lens to identify all of the symptoms that each patient may be suffering from, as well as assess the functional ability of each organ system and their capacity to operate together to produce wellness.

This can provide a refreshing outlook on disease and dysfunction, while playing a powerful role in encouraging the body to attain wellness and high-functioning whole health. People often accept their ailments as “their normal,” but most do not realize that this does not have to be the case. Addressing whole health extensively is the best way to ensure the most effective and efficient recovery from injury and disease, as well as to promote long-term health and wellness.

What should I expect during my first acupuncture appointment?

Before your first visit, your acupuncturist will have you fill out a detailed online health history form to begin developing a thorough understanding of the way your body functions and the unique tendencies and ailments that it may have.

Upon your initial appointment, your acupuncturist will review all of this information and discuss your diagnosis. Our goal is to help you develop a treatment plan and schedule that will best suit your recovery, work in conjunction with your other treatment professionals, and be tailored to your lifestyle and goals.

Following your first appointment and discussion about your body’s response to treatment, your treatment plan may be altered slightly to suit your needs even further. This may require that the first couple treatments be closer together or farther apart. If you have a strong reaction to treatment, perhaps only a couple treatments will be needed to resolve the issue altogether.

You can expect to be in your acupuncturist’s care for 60 minutes. Treatments are carried out in a comfortable lying down position. Much like a massage therapist, your practitioner will leave you the space and time to undress to your comfort level (with areas of importance exposed) and ask you to get onto the table and under the covers. Your practitioner will have communicated with you the plan to start either face up or face down, or to expect a combination of the two based on the conditions/areas to be treated.

Most people feel no or very minimal discomfort with the insertion of needles, often accompanied by the arrival of “Qi” (life force or vital force), which can look different for each individual and often varies depending on the area of the body, underlying conditions, longevity of the injury/illness, hormonal fluctuations and other factors. Words often reported to describe this sensation include tingling, a deep ache, pressure, heat, intensity, movement, flow, spark or a good kind of pain.

Your acupuncturist will maintain open communication with you throughout the treatment and check in often regarding your comfort. Needles generally remain in place for 10 to 30 minutes, depending on whether one or both sides of the body are being treated. During and after treatment, most people report achieving an incredible sense of deep relaxation and calm, often followed by a few nights of deep quality sleep.

The frequency and number of treatments recommended differs from person to person based on their condition. While some patients experience dramatic relief after the first treatment, acupuncture tends to be more cumulative in its effects, meaning that with each treatment, results get stronger and the relief lasts longer. For complex, long-standing chronic conditions, one treatment per week for several months may be advised. Generally speaking, acute problems often require only a few treatments before resolving, and these are often best performed in a narrow time frame.

Your practitioner will communicate with you about your progress as well as when and how to best make changes to your treatment schedule to get the most out of your healing progress.

Where can I learn about other treatments offered at the Institute of Movement?

If you’d like to know more about our other services, take a look at our registered massage therapy and chiropractic treatment options.

For more information about the Institute of Movement in Trail, B.C., check out this article on Kootenay Business.