What's the difference between medical acupuncture and traditional acupuncture?

Traditional acupuncture is based on Chinese medicine philosophy — concepts like qi and energy meridians guide where needles are placed. Medical acupuncture is based on neuroscience and anatomy. Needle sites are chosen based on their effect on the nervous system, muscles, and connective tissue — not energy pathways. At Propel, our chiropractors completed the Contemporary Medical Acupuncture program at McMaster University. All practitioners offering acupuncture at Propel hold advanced clinical training in this evidence-based model.

Does medical acupuncture hurt?

The needles used are extremely fine — significantly thinner than a hypodermic needle — and most patients feel little to no discomfort during insertion. You may feel a brief dull ache or pressure sensation when the needle reaches its target point, which is a normal sign that the nerve or muscle is responding. Most people find the experience much more comfortable than they expected, and many find it deeply relaxing.

Is medical acupuncture covered by insurance?

Yes — because acupuncture at Propel is performed by licensed physiotherapists and chiropractors, it is typically covered under the chiropractic or physiotherapy benefit of your extended health plan. We bill your insurance directly, so there's no out-of-pocket payment or paperwork to manage.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on the condition being treated and how your body responds. Acute conditions often show improvement within 3–5 sessions. Chronic or complex pain patterns may require a longer course of treatment. Your provider will discuss realistic expectations at your first appointment and reassess regularly as you progress.

Can medical acupuncture be combined with my other treatments at Propel?

Yes — and in many cases, it's more effective when it is. Acupuncture is frequently used alongside manual therapy, shockwave therapy, and rehabilitation exercise at Propel. Your provider will integrate it into your existing care plan where appropriate, rather than treating it as a separate, standalone intervention.

Medical Acupuncture Burlington | Drug-Free Pain Relief

Medical acupuncture — also called Contemporary Medical Acupuncture — is not the same as traditional acupuncture. While both involve the insertion of fine needles, the approach, reasoning, and training behind them are fundamentally different.

Traditional acupuncture is rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, using concepts like qi (energy) and meridian channels to guide treatment. Medical acupuncture is grounded in modern neuroscience and anatomy. At Propel, our practitioners use their knowledge of the nervous system, musculoskeletal anatomy, and neurofunctional medicine to determine exactly where needles are placed, why, and what physiological response they're targeting.

This approach was developed and refined at McMaster University's Department of Anesthesia — one of the world's leading evidence-based medicine institutions and the first university in Canada to offer a comprehensive medical acupuncture training program for regulated health professionals. Propel's chiropractors completed the Contemporary Medical Acupuncture program at McMaster directly, and all providers offering acupuncture at the clinic hold advanced clinical training in the model.

The effects of medical acupuncture are well-studied and physiologically grounded. When fine needles are inserted at specific anatomical sites, they trigger a cascade of responses in the nervous system and surrounding tissues:

Improved local circulation. Needle insertion stimulates blood flow to the treated area, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues that have become sensitized or starved of circulation — a common driver of chronic pain.

Natural pain modulation. Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, enkephalins, and norepinephrine — your body's own pain-dampening chemicals — reducing the experience of pain without medication.

Nervous system regulation. Acupuncture triggers the release of oxytocin, which down-regulates the stress response and helps calm an overactive nervous system — an important factor in chronic pain and tension patterns.

Muscle relaxation. Needles placed at motor points or trigger points cause shortened, hypertonic muscles to release, reducing compression on the surrounding joints and nerves.

Together, these mechanisms make medical acupuncture a genuinely effective tool for breaking pain cycles that other treatments alone haven't resolved.

The research supports this. A landmark meta-analysis of 17,922 patients — the largest individual patient data analysis of acupuncture for chronic pain ever conducted — found acupuncture superior to both sham acupuncture and no-treatment controls for musculoskeletal pain, headaches, and osteoarthritis. Treatment effects persisted over time and could not be explained by placebo effects alone. A 2022 systematic review further confirmed that acupuncture as an adjunct to standard care produces clinically meaningful reductions in both pain and disability for chronic low back pain.

At Propel, medical acupuncture is performed exclusively by:

Physiotherapists — licensed regulated healthcare professionals with advanced training in Contemporary Medical Acupuncture
Chiropractors — Dr. Peter and Dr. Alison Lejkowski, both graduates of the Contemporary Medical Acupuncture program at McMaster University

This matters. Medical acupuncture at Propel isn't delivered by a standalone acupuncturist working in isolation — it's integrated into your broader treatment plan by the same regulated providers managing your musculoskeletal care. That means the needle placement is informed by your full clinical picture, not just the symptom you walked in with.

Our Burlington practitioners regularly use medical acupuncture as part of treatment plans for:

Low back and neck pain
Sciatica and nerve pain
Headaches and migraines
Tendinitis and tendinopathy
Shoulder, hip, and knee joint pain
Muscle tension and trigger points
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Arthritis and chronic joint pain
Fibromyalgia
Post-injury inflammation and tissue healing

Medical acupuncture is most effective when combined with the other treatments in your care plan. Your provider will assess whether it's appropriate for your specific condition and how it fits within your overall treatment.

Your first acupuncture session at Propel begins with an assessment — your provider will review your health history, current symptoms, and treatment goals before any needles are placed. Needle sites are chosen based on your specific clinical presentation, not a standard protocol. Most patients receive treatment at their first appointment. Sessions typically last 30–45 minutes, and many patients report feeling noticeably relaxed — sometimes deeply so — during and after treatment. Mild soreness at needle sites for 24–48 hours afterward is normal and generally a positive sign of tissue response.

Medical Acupuncture as Part of Your Care Plan

One of the most effective applications of medical acupuncture is as a complement to manual therapy, rehabilitation, and exercise — not a replacement for it.

At Propel, your physiotherapist or chiropractor may recommend acupuncture alongside hands-on treatment, shockwave therapy, class 4 laser therapy, or your rehabilitation program to accelerate tissue healing, break chronic pain cycles, or reduce muscle guarding that's limiting your progress. Because all of Propel's providers work within an integrated care model, this coordination happens seamlessly within your existing appointments.

What's the difference between medical acupuncture and traditional acupuncture?
Traditional acupuncture is based on Chinese medicine philosophy — concepts like qi and energy meridians guide where needles are placed. Medical acupuncture is based on neuroscience and anatomy. Needle sites are chosen based on their effect on the nervous system, muscles, and connective tissue — not energy pathways. At Propel, our chiropractors completed the Contemporary Medical Acupuncture program at McMaster University. All practitioners offering acupuncture at Propel hold advanced clinical training in this evidence-based model.
Does medical acupuncture hurt?
The needles used are extremely fine — significantly thinner than a hypodermic needle — and most patients feel little to no discomfort during insertion. You may feel a brief dull ache or pressure sensation when the needle reaches its target point, which is a normal sign that the nerve or muscle is responding. Most people find the experience much more comfortable than they expected, and many find it deeply relaxing.
Is medical acupuncture covered by insurance?
Yes — because acupuncture at Propel is performed by licensed physiotherapists and chiropractors, it is typically covered under the chiropractic or physiotherapy benefit of your extended health plan. We bill your insurance directly, so there's no out-of-pocket payment or paperwork to manage.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the condition being treated and how your body responds. Acute conditions often show improvement within 3–5 sessions. Chronic or complex pain patterns may require a longer course of treatment. Your provider will discuss realistic expectations at your first appointment and reassess regularly as you progress.
Can medical acupuncture be combined with my other treatments at Propel?
Yes — and in many cases, it's more effective when it is. Acupuncture is frequently used alongside manual therapy, shockwave therapy, and rehabilitation exercise at Propel. Your provider will integrate it into your existing care plan where appropriate, rather than treating it as a separate, standalone intervention.