Care
Electroacupuncture
Acupuncture with a mild electrical current passed between pairs of needles. People often choose it when muscles around the back, hip or shoulder feel tight and stay that way.
A small device sends a gentle pulse through two needles. You feel a tapping or a humming, never a shock. We start at the lowest setting and turn it up only as far as you say, and you can ask us to turn it down or off at any moment.
It is not for everyone, and your acupuncturist tells you why before you decide. Results vary.
What is different
Needles are linked in pairs with soft clips
The level is yours to set
A session runs 15 to 20 minutes
What to know
Electroacupuncture, in plain words
Who usually comes
People with tight, stubborn muscles from long shifts, lifting or driving, and people whose old injury leaves one area stiff. It is usually added to acupuncture, not offered alone.
What a visit is like
A first visit takes about 75 minutes and later visits about 45.
Check-in and a few questions
Needles placed, then linked to the device
Current on for 15 to 20 minutes while you rest
What you may feel afterward
Most people feel loose or sleepy. Some feel sore, and some see a small bruise where a needle was. It fades within days. Tell us right away if the current feels sharp.
Tell us first
Tell your acupuncturist before the first needle if:
You have a pacemaker or another implanted device. We don't use electroacupuncture then
You have epilepsy or a history of seizures
You are or might be pregnant
You take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder
You are afraid of needles
How many visits people plan for
That depends on you, not on a number we promise. Your acupuncturist suggests a plan and you both look at it after a few visits. An authorization or a claim may set its own limit, and we tell you what yours says.
What it does not do, and when to see a doctor
Electroacupuncture does not replace your doctor's care and is not an emergency service. See a doctor first, or call 911, for chest pain, sudden weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or pain after a serious fall or accident.
Ask about electroacupuncture
Book a first visit. Your acupuncturist will say whether it fits you.