<![CDATA[DAYHOFF ORTHOPEDIC ACUPUNCTURE - BLOG]]>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:50:35 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Acupuncture and Dry Needling]]>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 05:05:53 GMThttps://www.dayhoffacupuncture.com/blog/acupuncture-and-dry-needlingAcupuncture has a local and systemic effect on the physiology of the body. Meaning, acupuncture affects the whole body. This holistic approach allows acupuncturist to treat a wide range of conditions including acute or chronic pain, sports injuries, digestion, fertility, anxiety, depression, sleep and more. Acupuncture needles are often placed around the whole body; in the forearms, forelegs, abdomen, chest, back and head to create this systemic effect. Acupuncturists focus on the whole body system while simultaneously focusing on a specific condition or a pain condition and can incorporate dry needling & orthopedic acupuncture.

Acupuncture helps to normalize background physiological functions of the body, down regulating the sympathetic fight or flight nervous system that leads to disease. While stimulating the parasympathetic rest and repair nervous system that heals us from disease. Often creating a deep sense of relaxation and wellbeing.

Research shows that acupuncture stimulates the body to release it’s naturally occurring chemicals; like serotonin that is mood stabilizing, dopamine the ‘feel good’ hormone, and natural opioids that help reduce pain. The release of these naturally occurring chemicals creates homeostasis or balance for the nervous system, reduces pain and helps us have an overall sense of wellbeing. Acupuncture is a minimally invasive way to create homeostasis or balance in the nervous system that is an essential part of health and healing.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years and sometimes as a primary system of preventative healthcare. Acupuncture continues to be studied with breakthroughs in scientific understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms. Some people describe acupuncture as treating the energy of the body, but it isn’t the kind of metaphysical energy medicine that comes to mind, it is the bodies nervous system that acupuncture regulates. Additionally, the holistic nature of acupuncture also includes recommendations for diet and lifestyle to help provide at home approaches to support optimal health.

 
Dry needling has a local effect to the muscle generating a pain condition and needles are placed directly in the muscle(s). The targeted methodology has several distinct focuses; to mechanically turn on a muscle that is not getting the neural impulses to contract appropriately during movement patterns or to relax a tight muscle that is over working often due to other muscles not firing correctly. This is done by creating change in the motor endplate called the motor point of a muscle by reestablishing normal muscle contraction or to release trigger points in the muscle tissue due to inflammation.

Dry needling strives to normalize the electrical signaling within each affected muscle. This allows for normal biomechanical functions of the muscle and ultimately creates positive change to the whole myofascial chain. Meaning, when a muscle does not function properly it will create disruption to the movement pattern of the body. Over time this can lead to movement disorders that cause wear and tear to joints, puts extra strain on muscles and eventually can cause pain conditions.

The practice of dry needling often includes looking at where there might be disfunction in the movement patterns, what muscle is contributing to that dysfunction by either not firing or over firing. Needling the muscle directly can help correct that disfunction. When followed by strengthening and lifestyle changes the combination helps to reestablish movement patterns and resolve or reduce pain conditions.
 
Dry needling is part of an acupuncturist scope of practice and is often a post graduate specialty for those who want to dive deeper into orthopedic acupuncture. Acupuncturists dry needling treatments tend to be very comfortable due to the extensive training in needling the body during the 3-4 year master program for acupuncture.
Other practitioners that can offer dry needling include physiatrists, medical doctors, doctor of osteopathy, naturopaths, and physical therapists.
​
No matter what type of practitioner provides dry needling, it requires a deep understanding of anatomy, movement patterns and biomechanics.
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Medicare has approved acupuncture for low back pain but services must be provided in a primary care practice and submitted under an MD's license. At this time, an acupuncturist cannot submit claims directly to medicare. This is because acupuncturist are not approved to be medicare providers yet.

Secondary Medicare plans are different.  An acupuncturist can submit insurance claims to secondary medicare plans. Secondary plans will cover what Medicare wont cover. Premera and Regence etc are examples of this, but make sure that your card says 'Secondary.'

Supplemental insurance plans do not cover acupuncture. Supplemental plans will only cover services that Medicare covers. Supplemental plans pay the remainder of the claim after Medicare pays for their portion. If Medicare doesn't cover a service, supplemental insurance will also not cover the service. AARP is an example of this. Your card will say 'Supplemental.' Some Regence and Premera plans have supplemental coverage instead of secondary coverage so make sure to check your card. 

If you have an additional Medicare insurance plan, take a look at your card and see if it says Secondary or Supplemental. If it says Secondary then call your insurance plan and ask if you have acupuncture benefits. ​]]><![CDATA[Size does matter! How big are acupuncture needles?]]>Wed, 21 Jun 2017 17:38:00 GMThttps://www.dayhoffacupuncture.com/blog/size-does-matter-how-big-are-acupuncture-needlesMany people have a fear of needles for one reason or another. I have heard several times that the fear of needles is the #1 reason why people  have yet to receive acupuncture, even though they are curious about the benefits. Even though many people in their lives benefit in numerous ways that no other therapy has provided for them.

This reminds me of the mnemonic I once learned about fear:
F.E.A.R. ~  false expectations appearing real

Here is a great illustration that gets to the point. (Pun intended :)
Picture
Size does matter! Acupuncture needles are TINY! 

An acupuncture needle is very small, much smaller than a hypodermic/injection needle and is pain free.  In fact, approximately 20 acupuncture needles can fit inside the shaft of a hypodermic needle, they are that small.

Not only does acupuncture not cause pain, the benefits of acupuncture has a large span of what it can treat.  Acupuncture can help the prevention of disease, potentially reverse disease, postpone or prevent surgery, relieve pain and discomfort in the body, balance hormones, reduce stress and ease anxiety.

Acupuncture is a successful adjunct therapy to Western conventional treatments, physical therapy, chiropractic, naturopathy, soma structural integration, rolfing, massage and personal trainers/coaches. 

The bonus of acupuncture treatments?
Most people fall asleep during their treatments! 
​Best nap ever... or so I am told ; )

Bottom line, it does not hurt to receive acupuncture.

​~ Dr. Catherine Dayhoff, DAOM, LAc 
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