– Amy is one of the few Physiotherapists in Toronto who is also a Registered Acupuncturist. She has received 2 years (2000+ hours) of formal acupuncture training at Eight Branches of Eastern Medicine. Comparatively, most Physiotherapists have taken only weekend or intensive acupuncture courses (100 hours).
– To further her knowledge of acupuncture, Amy has apprenticed from Toronto’s top-rated Acupuncturists, Susan Hu and May Huang.
– Most Physiotherapists use acupuncture as a secondary therapy to their preferred treatment (i.e., electro-machines, heat pads, manipulations, prescribed exercises), but Amy uses acupuncture as the primary form of treatment.
Amy Chen is a registered physiotherapist and acupuncturist who specializes in using acupuncture to treat pain. The majority of your treatment time will be acupuncture, and Amy will provide you with a home exercise program as well as patient education. Amy DOES NOT use massage therapy, electro-machines, heat pads, or manipulations for her physiotherapy treatment.
Some people may assume that acupuncture is very painful. That’s a misconception. The needles used for acupuncture are solid and extremely fine – they are 90% thinner compared to needles used in injections and blood drawing. When the needles reach the acupuncture points, there is a sensation that could be described as tingling or numbing, rather than “painful.” Sometimes the sensation may transfer to other parts of the body.
Many people seek out massage therapy when they want to get rid of their pain or knotted muscles. But deep tissue massage can be time consuming and very painful for the recipient. Acupuncture is special in its ability to access the knotted muscles and restoring the tight muscles to their natural length and function, all without the patient feeling pain.
First, Amy palpates and locates the exact contracted muscle, called “trigger point” that is involved in your pain, and then places 2-4 needles into this knotted muscle. Then she will connect an electrical source to the needle to make the needle gently vibrate. This vibration has an anti-spasmodic effect and will work to undo the tension in the taut muscle and you will experience relief from your pain typically within 1-3 visits. Acupuncture opens up the contracted muscle, increases blood and oxygen to the tissue, and restores length and function to the muscle.
Many people who are skeptical of acupuncture report that they tried acupuncture and it did not produce any results. However, they usually have received only one acupuncture treatment. Amy likes to remind patients that acupuncture is similar to prescription medication in which multiple dosages are required to achieve the desired outcome.
To achieve the desired outcome from acupuncture, you need to see a Registered Acupuncturist and adhere to a course of treatment which typically ranges from 5-12 visits.
Many people who hear the word needle and immediately think it is risky because of the possibility of infections. Rest assured, there is no risk for infection because all of the acupuncture needles we use are one time use only, disposable and sterile.
The answer is usually yes. Acupuncture is excellent for any type of pain conditions that involves muscles, bone and nerves. Acupuncture is amazing in its ability to produce anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and regenerative effects.
Yes, acupuncture is a treatment method that is covered under physiotherapy.
It ranges from 2-10 needles.
Acupuncture is cumulative and each treatment builds on the next. Typically, a series of 6-12 sessions is considered a “course of treatment”. We recommend 2x/week for the first 2-3 weeks, then 1x/week for 2-3 weeks, then 1x/every two weeks for 1 month. Improvement in symptoms can be seen after a few treatments, but additional treatments will create a more lasting effect.
Amy is not a physiotherapist who specializes in pelvic floor physiotherapy. There are many physiotherapists in Toronto who received specialized training in pelvic floor physiotherapy, they are called ‘pelvic floor physiotherapist’. Please continue your search for a pelvic floor physiotherapist.
We are not an OHIP clinic therefore, we do not accept OHIP as a form of payment.
Sorry, we do not provide any discount to any of our clients.
No, not at this moment.