Pain - Carolina Total Wellness

September 27, 2023September 27, 2023

How does Acupuncture work, and what can it treat?

Katie Depre LAc, LMBT, FABORM, NCCAOM

Though often described as traditional or ancient medicine, research has proven that Acupuncture has its place alongside modern medical practices. Hair-thin needles are placed in precise and therapeutic point locations along meridians. Meridians have been shown to mirror the fascial network of the body. Fascia surrounds all of the organs, muscles, bones, and nerve fibers. These points are located alongside nerve endings and blood vessels, thereby directly influencing blood flow and sensory nerves in the area (2,3). Functional brain imaging has shown changes in the brain when these points are needled (1). Since the brain controls the systems of the body (hormones, blood flow, stress responses, organ function, reproduction, etc.), influencing the brain and nervous system with Acupuncture will impact our health. Treatment encourages the body’s own systems of balance, commonly known as homeostasis.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health outlines many of the researched treatable conditions (4); these include: pain management, osteoarthritis, sciatica, fibromyalgia, cancer pain, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, depression, allergies, infertility, and menopause symptoms. Though more chronic conditions will require a series of treatment for complete resolution, I have personally witnessed immediate relief from insomnia, digestive complaints, anxiety, and pain in my clinic. Especially because it is a non-pharmaceutical approach, many patients search out Acupuncture for treatment to acute and chronic conditions.

As a Fellow of the Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board of Reproductive Medicine, FABORM, I treat many patients with their fertility goals. By regulating the menses, we can prepare the body for pregnancy. Fertility work is best done weekly for three months prior to conception, as it takes three months for the egg to develop in the ovaries. During times of sympathetic stress (the flight or fight response), blood is shunted away from the ovaries and uterus. This can negatively impact egg quality and the thickness of the uterine lining. By encouraging blood flow to these reproductive organs, switching the nervous system into a parasympathetic state (rest, digest, and repair), and regulating the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis, we set the body up for success.

For patients undergoing IVF, the Paulus Protocol is utilized. This is a series of points done before and after an embryo transfer. “Clinical pregnancies were documented in 34 of 80 patients (42.5%) in the acupuncture group, whereas the pregnancy rate was only 26.3% (21 out of 80 patients) in the control group (5).”

Please reach out today if you have specific questions on how Acupuncture can help you realize your health goals!

Warmly,

Katie Depre LAc, LMBT, FABORM, NCCAOM

Sacred-sea.com

(919) 808-2638

Huang W, Pach D, Napadow V, Park K, Long X, Neumann J, Maeda Y, Nierhaus T, Liang F, Witt CM. Characterizing acupuncture stimuli using brain imaging with FMRI–a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e32960. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032960. Epub 2012 Apr 9. PMID: 22496739; PMCID: PMC3322129.
Langevin HM, Yandow JA. Relationship of acupuncture points and meridians to connective tissue planes. Anat Rec. 2002 Dec 15;269(6):257-65. doi: 10.1002/ar.10185. PMID: 12467083.
Bai Y, Wang J, Wu JP, Dai JX, Sha O, Tai Wai Yew D, Yuan L, Liang QN. Review of evidence suggesting that the fascia network could be the anatomical basis for acupoints and meridians in the human body. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:260510. doi: 10.1155/2011/260510. Epub 2011 Apr 26. PMID: 21584283; PMCID: PMC3092510.
Acupuncture: What You Need to Know. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2022, October). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-what-you-need-to-know

October 28, 2022November 28, 2022

Healthy Work Ergonomics

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the study of people’s efficiency in their work environment. The position of your monitor, how you sit, how long you sit, and many other variables can affect your work efficiency. It is also important to consider the impact that working in front of a computer can have on your mental and physical health. Here are several suggestions for making your work environment more productive, enjoyable, and healthier.

Computer and Visual Ergonomics

Choose a chair or standing position that supports your back. Make sure that you are not sitting for prolonged periods of time. Stretch your fingers, hands, and arms periodically.
Be aware of your head tilting forward or backward as this can cause neck strain and headaches. Your computer display should be located just below eye height, about 4-5 inches as measured from the center of the monitor.
When typing, make sure that your hands are at, or below your elbows. Your knees should be level with your hips.
Position your computer monitor 20-28 inches away from your eyes.
Refrain from prolonged periods of working on a mobile device, as this can create eye strain.
After 2 hours of continuous computer use, rest your eyes for 15 minutes.
Follow the “20-20-20 rule” to reduce eye strain: every 20 minutes, look at an object at least 20 feet away from your computer monitor for at least 20 seconds.
Set the default font size on digital devices to 3.6mm.
Use a blue-light filter on electronic devices to block the blue light emitted from digital screens.

Mental and Physical Health

Move around during breaks and stand during conference calls to reduce your overall time spent sitting. A 2-3 minute activity break every 30 minutes has been shown to improve blood sugar health.
Make time for a lunch break away from your desk. Plan 1 non work related lunch date per month.
Set wellness boundaries between your work and personal life by keeping a regular work schedule and routine. Turn off your computer after hours.
When working from home create a designated workspace separate from your living space as much as possible. When not working, close the door or hide your workspace using a partition.
Your office should be comfortable. It should support feelings of ease and help create a smooth work flow. Have tools kept in your office that can help you decompress the body. Some suggestions are a yoga mat, foam roller, lacrosse ball or acupressure mat. Take mini breaks and use them.
Use lamp lighting vs overhead lighting and an essential oil diffuser.
Practice 2-3 minutes of deep breathing or mindfulness meditation a few times each day.
Use a sound machine.
Have a yearly Postural assessment done.

Call our office and schedule and appointment with one of our Health Coaches to learn more about ways to support a healthy mind and body while managing a robust work schedule.

Yours in health,
Clarissa A. Kussin, ND, FMHC, ERYT-1000

References:
1. Long J, Richter H. The pitfalls of the traditional office ergonomics model in the current mobile work environment: Is visual ergonomics health literacy the remedy? Work. 2019;63(3):447- 456. doi:10.3233/WOR-192937
2. Randolph SA. Computer Vision Syndrome. Workplace Health & Safety. 2017;65(7):328-328. doi:10.1177/2165079917712727
3. Chantal Coles-Brennan. Management of digital eye strain. Clin Exp Optom. 2019;102(1):18-29. doi.org/10.1111/cxo.12798
4. Dempsey PC, Larsen RN. Benefits for Type 2 Diabetes of Interrupting Prolonged Sitting With Brief Bouts of Light Walking or Simple Resistance Activities. Diabetes Care. 2016 Jun;39(6):964-72. doi: 10.2337/dc15-2336
5. Peddie MC, Bone JL. Breaking prolonged sitting reduces postprandial glycemia in healthy, normal-weight adults: a randomized crossover trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;98(2):358-366. doi:10.3945/ajcn.112.051763
6. De Couck M, Caers R. How breathing can help you make better decisions: Two studies on the effects of breathing patterns on heart rate variability and decision-making in business cases. Int J Psychophysiol. 2019 May;139:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.02.011.

November 14, 2021November 15, 2021

Dry Needling with Dr. Kari Smith, PT, DPT

At Carolina Total Wellness we understand that our services and support are sometimes only part of the solution in optimizing our patients’ health. We have worked over the years with various medical providers in our community to establish a base of high-quality clinicians who are able to meet the various health needs of our patients. This is the first in a series of guest blogs from one of our community providers. Dr. Kari Smith, PT, DPT, describes one of her approaches to treating pain – dry needling.

What is dry needling?
Dry Needling is a soft tissue manual therapy technique performed by a certified clinician with a professional degree in the medical field. The clinician safely guides a sterile monofilament needle into dysfunctional muscle tissue to aid in pain reduction and restoration of proper movement patterns. This technique involves identifying and treating a muscle trigger point (a collection of muscle fibers that lack healthy blood supply, have a higher resting electrical state and contain pain-generating chemicals). Left untreated, muscle trigger points can lead to altered joint movement, as well as increased stress on surrounding soft tissue.

A clinician may also use dry needling with electric stimulation to release overactive primary muscles, or to wake up dormant stabilizing muscles by improving their neural response. Primary muscle groups are comprised mostly of fast-twitch muscle fibers, so they fatigue quickly and require de-activation to recover. Stabilizing muscles contain more slow-twitch fibers and can withstand longer bouts of activation. Our bodies experience pain or movement dysfunction when the stabilizing muscles are inactive, and the larger muscle groups work over-time. Through dry needling with electric stimulation, the clinician activates these stabilizing muscles so that stress is taken off primary muscle groups, allowing these larger muscle groups to function optimally, but also have time for recovery.

Does it hurt?
The needles are much smaller than ones used for an injection, so often patients do not feel the insertion of the needle in the skin. There is also nothing injected (as the needle is solid), so patients do not experience the burning sensation that is commonly felt when a fluid is injected into the body. The most common sensation is a light cramping when the needle activates a deep twitch response in the trigger point. This is an effective response that is documented in the literature that indicates that the trigger point has been released and immediate changes in muscle length are observed. Some patients feel soreness after the treatment, similar to muscle fatigue after a strenuous workout. Your therapist will be in constant communication with you throughout the procedure to alter or cease treatment as needed.

How will I know the treatment is effective?
Your therapist will perform a series of pre-treatment tests to determine areas of pain, movement dysfunction, or loss in strength. Following treatment, these areas will be re-assessed for improvement, and often there are immediate results. Your therapist will then recommend corrective exercises to maintain the gains made during the manual therapy session.

If you are suffering from pain and feel that dry needling may be of benefit to you, feel free to discuss this with your functional medicine physician at Carolina Total Wellness or contact Dr. Smith at Prevail physical therapy.

Dr. Kari Smith, PT, DPT
Founder, Owner, Physical Therapist, Prevail
p 919-482-9648 | f 919-589-4839
kari@prevailphysio.com www.prevailphysio.com
100 Keybridge Dr., Morrisville, NC 27560

Tag: Pain

How does Acupuncture work, and what can it treat?

Healthy Work Ergonomics

Dry Needling with Dr. Kari Smith, PT, DPT

Functional Medicine

Allergy Testing & Drops

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