Electroacupuncture for Orthopedic Conditions

With Instructor Anthony Von der Muhll, L.Ac., DAOM, DNBAO, FAIPM

• Provokes strong pain control responses through release of the brain’s own opioid neurotransmitters (including endorphins, dynorphins, enkephalins), as well as up-regulation of serotonin, a critical mood stabilizing biomolecule.
• Interrupts pain/spasm cycles, and can facilitate the gains in joint range-of-motion crucial to physical rehabilitation.
• Stimulates proprioceptive nerve fibers, resulting in muscle re-balancing and re-education of hypo-functioning or injured muscles.
• Normalizes local blood flow and lymphatic drainage.
• Speeds up cell metabolism, thus stimulating tissue repair and regeneration.

Electroacupuncture is safe for long-term use and without known side-effects. Properly-applied, electroacupuncture is no more uncomfortable, and is better tolerated by some patients, than manual stimulation of needles to bring about pain relief.

Electroacupuncture safety:

• Cautions and contraindications
• Patient education and informed consent
• Safety protocols and management of adverse events

Electroacupuncture parameters and settings:

• Amplitude: milli- and micro-
• Frequency
• Mode
• Duration
• Polarity and lead placement

Integrating electroacupuncture into acupuncture clinic flow:

• Combining electroacupuncture with other therapies
• Documentation for malpractice defense and to support insurance billing

Student Comments:

• "I really appreciated the straightforward and science based education on how to properly apply e-stim. I understand it so much better now!" -- Elizabeth Angiello, Richmond, CA