PT
Classroom -
Acupuncture as an Adjunct to Physical Therapy
׀ by Denise Chang, MD & Chai Rasavong, MPT,
MBA
Dr. Denise Chang underwent a Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation residency at Columbia University's New York Presbyterian Hospital
which inspired in her a strong interest for the treatment of acute and chronic
musculoskeletal pain using concepts of Integrative Medicine. In addition to
being certified in Medical Acupuncture by the UCLA Helms Medical Acupuncture for
Physicians program, she has studied Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
at well-renowned universities in Beijing, China. Dr. Chang is currently
practicing at Advanced Pain Management in
Wisconsin.
Acupuncture as
an Adjunct to Physical Therapy
Physical
therapists utilize a combination of interventions to achieve pain
relief for patients. Such interventions can include and are not
limited to exercise, stretching, various manual techniques such as
massage, myofascial release, primal reflex release technique, etc.,
and various modalities such as low level laser therapy, ultrasound,
TENS, etc. Another intervention that should be considered and maybe
useful in adjunct to physical therapy is acupuncture (1).
Acupuncture
is a form of Chinese medicine which has evolved and has been around
for over two thousand years. It is an intervention which provides a
means of peripheral stimulation for pain relief
(2) and has found
its greatest acceptance and success in the management of
musculoskeletal conditions such as soft tissue contusions, acute
muscle spasms, musculotendinous sprains and strains, and impingement
syndromes
(3). Chronic musculoskeletal pain problems are also
commonly and appropriately treated with acupuncture along with other
more conventional therapy. Those problems most likely to respond are
repetitive strain disorders, myofascial pain patterns, arthralgias,
especially osteoarthritis in nature, degenerative disc disease with
or without radicular pain, pain following surgical interventions,
and headaches
(4, 5, 6, 7).
The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture
held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that
acupuncture is being "widely" practiced--by thousands of physicians,
dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners. In the hands of
properly trained practitioners, acupuncture is a fairly safe
discipline. Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture
have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Many patients report a sensation of well-being and relaxation
following an acupuncture treatment. More common adverse effects were
local bruising, pain at the needle site, light-headedness, and minor
bleeding.
Regulations of acupuncture is a state by state basis, 44 states
currently have legislation in place. Some have their own licensing
examinations, while many accept those of the National Commission for
the certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. “Currently,
there is no national standard for third-party insurance coverage
regarding acupuncture, but coverage is increasing. In 2002 33% of
employers offered acupuncture as a covered health benefit, and by
2004 this had increased to 47%. Medicare and Medicaid do not
reimburse for acupuncture” (8).
Last revised: December 5, 2008
by Denise Chang, MD & Chai Rasavong, MPT, MBA
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therapist or physician prior to any form of self treatment.
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Physical
therapists utilize a combination of interventions to achieve pain
relief for patients. Such interventions can include and are not
limited to exercise, stretching, various manual techniques such as
massage, myofascial release, primal reflex release technique, etc.,
and various modalities such as low level laser therapy, ultrasound,
TENS, etc. Another intervention that should be considered and maybe
useful in adjunct to physical therapy is acupuncture (1).
Acupuncture
is a form of Chinese medicine which has evolved and has been around
for over two thousand years. It is an intervention which provides a
means of peripheral stimulation for pain relief
