acupuncture is a treatment that is “based on the theory that illness results from imbalances in energy flow, or qi, and fine needles are inserted at specific points on the body to correct these imbalances and restore harmony to the body.”
Acupuncture treatment has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine and more recently in western cultures. Acupuncture has been used to treat a wide range of conditions, such as pain, musculoskeletal disorders, and organ/body system disorders. This can be effective in decreasing spasm within muscle bundles, which can help decrease pain, improve range of motion and function of muscles and joints.
Acupuncture has both physiologic and psychological effects that are described as either specific or non-specific.2 The specific effects refer to the analgesic effects produced by needling a specific site at a proper depth for an appropriate duration and number of treatment sessions.