Your First Visit —
Arrive informed and prepared for your initial assessment at MQT Acupuncture
What to Expect
Please arrive ready for your appointment, prepared to change clothing as needed. Athletic shorts and tanktop are helpful so as to allow access to the problem areas.
Our approach identifies and treats the underlying mechanical causes of pain, helping to normalize movement patterns and create lasting, functional change.
On your first appointment, after a comprehensive history and physical assessment, you will be provided a recommended treatment plan to match your healthcare goals.
Acupuncture is not a “one and done” treatment. Improvements are usually felt on the very first visit, but true healing requires giving your body the chance to rebuild damaged tissues.
First appointments usually last 50 min. For a returning patient, they can be as short as 30 min. So please plan accordingly.
Meet Lucca
The MQT office mascot!
He is a friendly and loving Lagotto Romagnolo (Italian Waterdog). He will greet you, and hang out during your treatment (because your treatment usually means he gets treats too).
He enjoys Lake Superior, hikes in the woods, harassing chipmunks and rabbits, and snuggling for a movie with popcorn.
*If you prefer he remain in his office for your visit, please don’t hesitate to mention it when scheduling. He is very social, but will happily take a nap in the back while you are here.
Frequently Asked Questions + Key Information
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I combine manual muscle testing and orthopedic assessment with Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Together they allow me to create the perfect treatment plans for my patients. I have had the great fortune of working with world class athletes trying to increase performance, professional musicians recovering from repetitive use injury, and dancers recovering from traumatic injury. Pain effects us all, and it doesnt matter if your career is on the line, or your personal comfort. It still hurts.
My goal is to see improvment immediately following treatment, and I am pleased to say that this holds true for over 95% of the people I have worked with.
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Acupuncture can improve performance, strength, flexibility, millisecond reaction time, and uncover hidden weaknesses and imbalances to prevent injury.
Weakness in a muscle can be the result of tight, weak or shortened inhibited muscles. With orthopedic acupuncture I am able to reset and release these muscles, maximizing the muscle's ability to recover and function.
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Patients do not need a referral to be treated with acupuncture. However, some private insurance companies do require a doctor’s referral. Please check with your private insurance company before making an appointment.
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Acupuncture needles are as fine as a hair, so most of the time you won’t feel anything more than if you tapped a toothpick against your skin. If I am doing motor point release of a muscle, the desired response is for the muscle to twitch, helping to reset the tight or shortened muscle. This is usually painless or no more uncomfortable than the pain you are already experiencing.
If you want to try acupuncture but are nervous, just let me know and we can start with adjunctive therapies such as bodywork, cupping or Gua Sha, and ease into acupuncture as you become more comfortable.
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Yes, I do. I have been doing dry needling for years, and have spent a great deal of time and effort to safely administer this modality.
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No, never! Every needle is single-use, and fully sterilized. They are made of surgical grade stainless steel and are very, very strong. They get used once, and then properly disposed of.
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Clinical Bodywork is a term I use to define manual manipulation of the soft tissues of the body (muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and fascia). It is not to be confused with "massage". This is specifically targeting locations of disfunction, and manually breaking up adhesions/knots in order to restore proper function by whatever modalities will be most beneficial. Adjunctive therapies include traditional fire-cupping, Gua Sha (IASTM, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization), or simple direct manual pressure.
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No. I do not bill insurance directly. However, if your insurance plan does cover acupuncture, I can provide receipts that contain all the necessary information for you to seek reimbursement.
Another option that many people choose to use is an HSA or FSA card. If you do not have one of those options, then I accept payment in cash, check or credit card.
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How many sessions will I need?
You will often feel improvement from the very first session. However, because every patient case varies, timelines can be provided following an initial assessment.
As a general rule of thumb, the following holds true:
- For more minor, non-chronic injuries or movement challenges, we can see dramatic improvement within 4-6 sessions.
- For more major or chronic injuries or movement issues, we ballpark around 10-12 sessions.
- For severe or long-term chronic issues, it may take up to 20 sessions to see a significant resolution of your symptoms.
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It is best to wear comfortable, loose clothing. If we are working on the lower body, wear shorts. If we are working on the shoulder, neck or midback area, wear a tank top with access to the area that hurts.
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Rest, relax, and recover.
I usually recommend drinking additional water to help the body recover. It is not uncommon to have slight post-workout type soreness for up to 48 hours following treatment, and I find that this is lessened by rest, gentle range of motion exercises, water and Epsom salt baths. The magnesium in Epsom salt is great for muscle relaxation, and the heat of a bath helps increase circulation and expedite recovery.
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MQT Acupuncture is an ADA facility with wheelchair accessible treatment rooms, bathrooms, and handicapped parking all readily available.
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Free off-street parking with Handicap designations. Located behind the building with entrances on both Lakeshore Blvd or Spring St..
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Cancellation policy - 24 hours notice or more whenever possible please. I understand emergencies occur that are unavoidable, but repeat offenders will be charged the full fee for missed appointments.
If you are running late, five minutes isn’t usually a problem. If you will be later than 15 minutes, you may be asked to reschedule.
*Detailed policy will be issued in the office
We Look Forward to Seeing You Soon!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.