Acupuncture vs Dry Needling...which should you choose?

Full disclaimer. I am a licensed Acupuncturist. And, after a wonderful weekend with Sue Falsone's Structure and Function Dry Needling class, I am also a Dry Needler. To be honest, I have always been both...and BOTH is best!

Acupuncture is founded in Eastern Medicine. As an acupuncturist, I speak of Qi and meridians and a holistic approach to your health and well being. I treat your constitution and your underlying imbalances.

Dry Needling is founded in Western Medicine. As a dry needler, I speak of neuromuscular tissue, trigger points and motor points. I treat your kinetic chain and fascial trains.

Here's the thing. The sweet spot has always been a combination of all of the above! Happily, I practice both.

Acupuncture Therapy: Tools of the Trade

Everybody thinks needles, of course, when you refer to Acupuncture Therapy. Rightly so! But, indeed, there are many other tools that are commonly integrated into an Acupuncture Therapy treatment. Laser, Cupping, Electric Stim, Guasha (scraping, IASTM), FAKTR, Taping are all frequent additions to my treatments.
Occasionally, situations will warrant these be the primary or stand alone treatment. Above is a prime example...dirty, messy, rainy, busy rodeo. Not the prime environment for acupuncture, but plenty of other ways to get the job done!

Dynamic Taping

I love #Dynamic Taping. The tape itself stretches in every direction (unlike KTape), has great resiliency and sports a cool tribal tattoo pattern. Unlike KTape, this is a biomechanical taping method, meaning it crosses joints and provides actual physical modifications to the body. It speaks to the Athletic Trainer in me! I love it and I promise you, this will be "The thing" you see in the next Olympics! And yes, that is a real cowboy!

Pickleball anyone?

One of the fastest growing recreational activities, especially among seniors, is Pickleball. This fast paced racquet sport is a great cardio workout and lends itself to all levels of skill. As with all racquet sports, it also lends itself to elbow and shoulder injuries. Commonly seen in my acupuncture office at AZ Spine Disc and Sport are Tennis Elbow and Rotator Cuff Tendinitis. Most sports and recreational injuries respond quickly to acupuncture and our goal is to get you back on the court quickly and without pain!

Let me know if I can help!

Thank you!

The results are in and I've been voted BEST of 2016 in the category of Naturopathic/Homeopathic/Holistic for my Acupuncture practice at AZ Spine Disc and Sport! I am honored to be voted first place after only one year here in this beautiful state. I am more honored to be trusted with the care of so many of you and I look forward to many more years of service to the Ahwatukee community.

Acupuncture Technology

Two of the traditional diagnostic tools used in acupuncture and TCM are the feeling of the pulse and observation of the tongue. While highly reliable in the hands of a master, I've often felt that objectivity is lacking in these methods. Luckily, now there is technology that provides the precision that I have been looking for. And even luckier, I use this tool, the AcuGraph, in my practice! It's quick, it's painless and it's incredible precise in providing diagnostic insight. The AcuGraph picks up imbalances BEFORE they become symptomatic allowing me to decrease down time for many of my (especially endurance) athletes! Check out this very informative video on acupuncture and the AcuGraph.

What is Acupuncture? from Cameron Larsen on Vimeo.

Cupping Therapy

By now everyone is familiar with the telltale circular bruising left behind by cupping therapy. A favorite of elite athletes and sports medicine providers everywhere, there were many sightings of cupping at the latest Olympic Games in Rio. But, what exactly IS cupping and what is it good for?

Cupping is an ancient modality that falls into the scope of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is most effectively combined with Acupuncture. The practice has evolved from the use of bamboo and fire, to the vacuum cupping systems that most practitioners use today.

Cupping involves distracting, or vacuuming, the skin up into the cups and either retaining the cups from 5-15 minutes, or gliding the cups along the surface. Cupping can increase circulation, decrease adhesions and promote lymph drainage. In TCM we use Cupping to move the Qi and remove stagnation (anywhere there is pain, there is stagnation). Often Cupping is performed after or during an acupuncture session, but it can also be a stand alone therapy.

Cupping is  wonderful for most musculoskeletal complaints. I routinely use cupping for back pain, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, runners knee, frozen shoulder, piriformis syndrome and sciatica, but it is also very effective with respiratory conditions like bronchitis.