Orthopedic Acupuncture in San Francisco
Precision-based care for pain, performance, and recovery.
This is acupuncture through an orthopedic dry needling and sports medicine lens. Every treatment is built around anatomy, biomechanics, and tissue-specific assessment, designed to reduce pain, restore movement, and accelerate healing.
Whether you're managing chronic tension, a sports injury, postural strain, or post-surgical recovery, your care is tailored to how your body actually moves and compensates.
What Makes Orthopedic Acupuncture Different
Your Orthopedic Acupuncture Session, Step-by-Step
A Thorough Consultation
Your first visit begins with an in-depth consultation where we take the time to understand your goals and help map out a clear path to get you there. We’ll explore how your body moves, compensates, and holds tension, while reviewing your symptoms, injury history, activity level, posture, and movement patterns. This is paired with targeted orthopedic testing of the affected area, allowing us to identify the root of pain and dysfunction—not just where it shows up.
Treatment
Following your consultation, you will receive a personalized orthopedic-style acupuncture treatment tailored to what your body needs that day. This may include targeted needling, trigger point release, and supportive modalities (such as cupping, gua sha, electrical stimulation, infrared light therapy, topicals, supplements or herbal medicine) designed to reduce pain, improve circulation, restore mobility, and support tissue repair. Each session is adaptive and evolves as your body responds and includes treatment.
Personalized Plan
You will leave with a clear, customized care plan outlining recommended treatment frequency, supportive therapies, and next steps. Treatment length varies based on your condition. Acute injuries and recent flare-ups often respond more quickly, while chronic pain patterns, postural strain, or long-standing injuries typically require a more gradual, layered approach over time.
Supportive Modalities We Integrate to Enhance Healing
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![Person lying down with acupuncture needles on neck and cables with clips attached to acupuncture points.]()
Electrical stimulation
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![Close-up of a person's hand and lap under red LED light therapy device.]()
LED and Infrared Light Therapy
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![Glass marbles stored in wooden trays on display shelves.]()
Cupping
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![A person getting a shoulder massage or physical therapy with a cupping tool on their shoulder.]()
Body Gua Sha
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![A minimalist table setting with various tea cups, bowls, and a teapot arranged on a placemat. A large decorative bonsai tree with twisted branches is placed on a gray pedestal in the background.]()
Herbal Medicine
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![A metal spoon with pink powder falling into a clear glass of water, creating a pink mixture.]()
Medical Grade Supplements
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![Close-up of a person's hand holding a glass dropper with yellow oil, with their fingers and the skin of their hand visible.]()
Therapeutic Topicals
Orthopedic Acupuncture FAQs
Orthopedic acupuncture is a targeted, results-driven approach designed to address the root causes of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. We integrate other modalities based on your individual needs, which we assess during your appointment to create a personalized plan. Each session includes a consultation, assessment, and treatment, combining our deep knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, and movement patterns with precise acupuncture techniques to reduce pain, restore mobility, and support long-term recovery.
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Orthopedic acupuncture is a results-driven approach that targets the root causes of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. It combines traditional acupuncture techniques with a deep understanding of anatomy, biomechanics, and movement patterns to restore function, reduce pain, and support long-term recovery.
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Unlike traditional acupuncture, which often focuses on balancing energy, orthopedic acupuncture emphasizes orthopedic assessment, movement analysis, and targeted needling to treat specific muscle, joint, and connective tissue issues.
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Each session includes a consultation, a thorough assessment of your movement and anatomy, and targeted acupuncture treatment. Based on your needs, we may also integrate other modalities to maximize results.
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Arrive wearing loose, comfortable clothing, such as shorts or something you can easily change into. This allows us to assess movement and apply treatment effectively.
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No. You can continue your normal activities. You may feel mild soreness similar to post-workout soreness for a day or so, but it’s safe to exercise, use the sauna, shower, or go about your usual routine.
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For those who have tried dry needling and found it very painful, orthopedic acupuncture offers a gentler option. We adapt similar techniques using a very gentle Japanese-style needling that is virtually painless but still targeted and effective. Instead of forceful thrusting, we often use electrical stimulation to enhance results safely and comfortably.
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Some patients notice improvement after the first session, especially for acute pain or tension, while others may need several sessions to achieve optimal results. Your response depends on your condition, goals, and overall health.
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The number of sessions depends on your condition, goals, and response to treatment. Some patients see improvement after just a few visits, while others benefit from ongoing sessions for long-term recovery and injury prevention.
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Yes. Orthopedic acupuncture works well alongside physical therapy, massage, chiropractic care, and other modalities. We assess your needs during each appointment to create a coordinated, personalized plan, and also have a network of trusted professionals we can refer you to if needed.
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Yes. Orthopedic acupuncture is safe when performed by trained professionals. We take a thorough medical history, consider any contraindications, and use sterile, single-use needles to ensure your safety.
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Our providers are trained in both traditional acupuncture and orthopedic-focused techniques, with in-depth knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, and movement assessment. They combine this expertise with ongoing education in sports medicine, injury rehabilitation, and integrative therapies to ensure safe, effective, and results-driven care.
