Frequently Asked Questions About Acupuncture and Postural Therapy

Welcome to WellFit Studio’s FAQ section, where we answer your most common questions about acupuncture and postural therapy. Learn more about how we use these treatments for pain relief, infertility, weight loss and other issues by addressing the root cause of each problem. Read on for more details, and be sure to contact our Boston practice with any questions.

Acupuncture FAQs

What is acupuncture?

Health is considered a free flow of Qui (energy). When there are blocks or stagnation, there exists disharmony or dis-ease. Acupuncture is a means by which the normal flow of Qui (energy) is restored in the body and mind.

What ailments and illnesses can acupuncture treat?

The World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health have listed several conditions as treatable by acupuncture and Oriental medicine:

• Gynecological Conditions
• Emotional Conditions
• Musculoskeletal Conditions
• Neurological Conditions
• Digestive Conditions
• Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat
• Respiratory Conditions

Is acupuncture safe?

Absolutely. Only disposable, sterile, FDA approved acupuncture needles are used during treatment.

Does acupuncture work?

There is much evidence to prove that acupuncture DOES WORK for many conditions. The National Institute of Health (www.nih.com) cites remarkable evidence for the 2000+ years that it has been in practice. WellFit Studio has many happy clients – check out our testimonials and our satisfied Yelp reviewers.

What should I expect from my first acupuncture appointment?

Before we begin treatment, we collect an understanding of your needs & your health history. When you arrive, we spend about 30 minutes with an initial examination & consultation. The consultation is a time for us to discuss your symptoms/history and address any questions you have about acupuncture. During the examination we feel the quality your pulse, look at your tongue & examine your overall wellness. With a clear understanding of your overall health picture, we are ready to craft a treatment plan to fit your specific needs. After this intake procedure, you will receive a full acupuncture treatment.

What should I expect during a regular acupuncture treatment?

Subsequent appointments will be an hour unless you sign up for additional services. You will be asked to notice any changes between treatments, even changes that are not directly related to your main complaint. Acupuncture treats the whole body and one imbalance affects the whole system.

Do need to have symptoms to receive acupuncture?

As acupuncture has grown in popularity, people are starting to understand the idea of preventative medicine. Acupuncture works on balance and we all are under a degree of stress (see below for the potential negative affects of stress). It is always a good idea to come in for a “tune-up” 2x months or as preferred.

The effects of stress include the following:

• Chronic fatigue, digestive upset, headaches, & back pain
• Lowers Immunity
• Increases blood pressure and risk of stroke
• Increases danger of heart attacks, particularly in conjunction with anger management
• Worsened asthma attacks
• Decreased libido or sexual desire.
• Triggered behaviors that contribute to death and disability, such as smoking, alcoholism, drug abuse, and overeating.

How many acupuncture treatments will I need?

The number of treatments will depend on the nature, severity and duration of the problem. Many patients show improvement in  4-12 treatments.

Postural Therapy FAQs

How many times a week would I need to be treated?

People receive acupuncture 1-3 times per week depending on severity of symptom.

How long will it be before I get results?

Each client responds differently, but you should feel different after your first appointment.  As you continue the therapy process your body will continue to change and your awareness of your body will continue to improve, day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month. We have been doing our exercises for years and our bodies still continue to change for the positive.

How many appointments do you recommend?

We recommend 2-3 months of weekly or alternating weekly visits depending on severity of the imbalance of posture.

Can I get out of pain quickly?

Although some people do experience pretty immediate relief, to make the results long lasting is just going to take time. Remember that your body most likely didn’t get into it’s current position overnight, and so it’s going to take some time to get out of it as well. The body is in an continual state of wanting to balance so  you should start to see results fairly quickly.

How often do I need to do my exercise menu?

We ask that you do your your menu daily. Although some clients in the beginning will need to do their menu more than once per day. Remember, you do your menu daily to keep your body feeling good, just like you brush your teeth daily to keep them healthy.

Do I have to do my menu in its entirety?

Yes, we suggest you do your whole menu once per day (ideally in the morning) and in the given order. The sequence is important as the exercises build on one another. The rest of the day feel free to do any exercises that you feel are beneficial and help keep your body feeling good.

Why do I need multiple visits and how many visits will I need?

Misalignment happens over time (decades even) and so it takes time to correct. Most clients will use between eight and sixteen visits to get out of pain and back to the activities they love. Even if your pain goes away after the first visit it is important to continue the therapy process as we are going after what caused the pain, not the pain itself, so it doesn’t come back. After they are pain free the clients who do the best long-term come in for maintenance visits at least twice a year (like one would go to the dentist).

Do I have to keep doing my menus for forever?

Only if your goal is staying pain free and living the active life you want to lead! If you stop supplying your body with the positive stimulus of the exercises and go back to the regular routine you were leading before therapy then your body will eventually go back to its misaligned ways. Remember your body responds to the stimulus you give it, be it positive or negative. Doing Posture Therapy is really a lifestyle change, not a quick fix or band-aid.

Can I continue with my current activities?

In general most activities and movements are positive stimulus when your body is correctly aligned. It is extremely important to listen to your body. If the activity feels good during and after and you enjoy it, keep it up. If your symptoms increase during or after then it may be necessary to put the activity on hold until the body returns to a more neutral position. We believe it is important to “straighten before you strengthen.”

How much does the therapy cost?

Posture Therapy requires not only a financial investment, but also a time investment. It is the time investment that is often the most challenging for people. Simply put, if you don’t the take time to do the exercises, your alignment is not going to improve. Your exercise menu (think food for your body) could take anywhere from twenty minutes and up to two hours to complete. Consistency is key.

As for the financial investment there are several therapy options. Each offers a different experience. There should be one that meet everyone’s financial needs. One option is to work face-to-face with your therapist in person or over Zoom/Skype/FaceTime. Another option is to do the Online Therapy and simply email your therapist posture photos. The final option is to do therapy via one of the books.

Does insurance cover posture therapy?

Being non-medical, Posture Therapy is not directly covered by insurance. That being said, some clients have had success using their Health Savings Account or Flex Spending Account for therapy.

Is posture therapy different from yoga, Pilates or other such classes?

Yes. Posture Therapy uses a series of corrective exercises custom tailored to your body. The exercises are done in order to eliminate pain by removing your structural dysfunctions. Unlike in a yoga class setting, you will work together with your therapist to develop each of your exercise menus that will be personalized based on your needs and abilities each visit.

I’ve tried everything without lasting success, why would posture therapy be any different?

Most therapies focus on treating the site of your pain rather than the source of your pain and don’t treat the body as a unit. When other treatments fail it’s often because they are missing something important. That missing piece if often your head-to-toe alignment.

Is it ok to still see my massage therapist/chiropractor/physical therapist/etc. while doing posture therapy?

Absolutely. Posture Therapy can be great in conjunction with manual therapies. That being said, our goal is to put you in the driver’s seat of your health so you aren’t dependent on another person or machine to feel great. We want to help educate you and give you the tools so you can keep yourself feeling great for years to come.

Visit Boston’s Top-Rated Acupuncture Practice

WellFit Studio provides holistic wellness and restorative health treatments at our practice in Boston. For acupuncture, functional medicine, microneedling, health coaching and more, contact us today. Call (617) 266-0323 or make an appointment now.