Does Acupuncture Work Alongside Chiropractic Care?

Yes, and in many cases the combination works better than either treatment alone.

Chiropractic adjustments restore mechanical function to the spinal joints. Acupuncture addresses pain signals in the nervous system, reduces inflammation through neurochemical pathways, and helps the muscles surrounding the treated joints relax. When you run them together, the adjustment goes in more cleanly and patients tend to hold the correction longer between visits.

Dr. Muren uses acupuncture from both a traditional Chinese medicine perspective and an orthopedic perspective. The orthopedic approach in particular complements chiropractic well because it targets specific anatomical structures, nerves, tendons, and trigger points rather than abstract meridian points. It's a western clinical application of an ancient technique.

We run combined visits frequently. Acupuncture first to prep the nervous system and soft tissue, then the chiropractic adjustment. Some patients follow that with soft tissue work like cupping or IASTM. The session takes longer but the outcomes justify it. Patients consistently report that combined visits produce more relief and that the improvements last longer.