Acupuncture uses very thin needles to create controlled sensory input that can influence pain processing, muscle tension, circulation, relaxation, and nervous-system activity.
Reviewed by Dr. Joe Troiani, DC and Dr. Theresa Troiani, DC, CCSP · Updated October 2026
TWO WAYS OF EXPLAINING ACUPUNCTURE
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, health is understood partly through the flow of Qi (pronounced “chee”) along pathways called meridians. When that flow is imbalanced, symptoms may appear. Acupuncture points are selected to help restore balance and support normal function.
Modern research looks at acupuncture through anatomy and physiology. A needle stimulates nerves and tissue, sending signals through the spinal cord and brain that can influence pain, muscle tension, circulation, and nervous-system activity.
Both perspectives can help shape how treatment points are selected for the individual patient.
WHAT SHOULD ACUPUNCTURE FEEL LIKE?
Acupuncture needles are extremely thin, much thinner than needles used for injections or blood draws. You may feel almost nothing, a quick pinch, pressure, tingling, warmth, or a mild muscle twitch.
The goal is not to create pain. The needle is simply the stimulus that gives the body and nervous system something new to respond to.
THE NEEDLE IS THE SIGNAL
A small mechanical stimulus can create a cascade of local and neurological responses that extend beyond the exact point where the needle was placed.
The surrounding cells and nerve endings react to the needle. That local response can influence blood flow, chemical signaling, muscle tension, and tissue sensitivity.
Sensory signals travel toward the spinal cord and brain and can influence how strongly pain signals are processed. Acupuncture gives the nervous system new sensory input to interpret.
Stimulation can influence brain networks involved in pain perception, stress response, autonomic regulation, relaxation, and the body’s own pain-modulating systems.
WHY PAIR IT WITH CHIROPRACTIC CARE?
The goal is not simply to add more treatment. It is to choose the tools that fit what your body needs.
Movement · Mobility · Function
Pain modulation · Muscle tension · Regulation
WHY THOSE SPECIFIC POINTS?
Needles are not simply placed wherever something hurts. Point selection can take into account where your symptoms are, which tissues may be involved, how your nervous system is responding, your overall presentation, and traditional acupuncture point relationships.
Two people with “the same pain” may receive very different treatments.
WHY MORE THAN ONE VISIT?
Repeated treatments allow us to see how your body responds, how long the response lasts, and whether that response builds over time.
Recommended frequency depends on the condition, how long it has been present, its severity, and how you respond to care.
MEET YOUR ACUPUNCTURE PROVIDER
Chiropractic Physician · Certified in Acupuncture
Dr. Man is the acupuncture provider at Advanced Spine & Injury Center, pairing her chiropractic training with certified acupuncture care to build treatment plans that address both the mechanical and neurological sides of pain.
Ask whether acupuncture may fit your care plan →ACUPUNCTURE ISN'T MAGIC
We are not only interested in where the needle goes. We are interested in how your body responds to the signal it creates.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Most acupuncture needles are extremely thin. You may feel almost nothing, a quick pinch, pressure, tingling, warmth, or a mild muscle twitch. It should not feel like getting an injection.
Not always. Acupuncture points do not have to be directly over the painful area. A needle placed elsewhere can still create sensory and neurological effects beyond the small area surrounding that needle.
Chiropractic care provides joint and mechanical input focused on movement, mobility, and function. Acupuncture provides sensory and neurological input that may influence pain modulation, muscle tension, and regulation.
It depends on the condition, how long you have had it, its severity, and how you respond. Repeated treatments help us evaluate the response and whether that response builds over time.
VISIT US
Schedule a consultation and we can discuss whether acupuncture makes sense for your symptoms, goals, and overall treatment plan.
General educational information only. Individual recommendations depend on your history and examination.