Acupuncture
South Edmonton
Coming SOON!
Evidence-Based Acupuncture combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine ,
Injury Recovery & Performance Optimization
At Muscle Release Massage, our acupuncture care is built around one goal: reducing pain, promoting natural healing, and restoring balance to your body.
Our approach combines traditional acupuncture principles, contemporary medical acupuncture techniques, and targeted soft tissue therapy to address the root cause of dysfunction — not just the symptoms.
Whether you are dealing with chronic joint pain, recovering from an acute injury, or seeking stress relief and improved circulation, our integrated care model helps you achieve sustainable, long-term wellness.
Advanced Expertise & Patient-Centered
You Can Trust.
Our acupuncture treatments are delivered by qualified practitioners dedicated to targeted, anatomical, and holistic recovery.
This depth of training allows us to provide care that goes beyond standard symptom relief, giving us a deeper understanding of:
How dry needling and acupuncture stimulate nervous system response and trigger point release
How traditional meridians align with modern neuromuscular pathways
How to combine acupuncture with soft tissue and manual therapies for faster recovery
How to prevent recurring tension, inflammation, and chronic pain
Rather than offering generic sessions, we evaluate your specific physical condition, identify structural and systemic dysfunctions, and craft individualized care plans.
For patients, this means:
More accurate assessments
Targeted treatment tailored to your specific pain points
Faster, longer-lasting relief and improved overall well-being
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a gentle, time-tested therapy designed to soothe the nervous system, ease physical tension, and support your body’s natural ability to heal.
During a treatment, ultra-fine, hair-thin needles—much smaller than those used for blood tests or vaccinations—are gently placed at key points along the body. Most people feel little to no sensation upon insertion, often describing a soft feeling of warmth, light pressure, or deep relaxation.
How Acupuncture Helps You Heal:
Calms the Nervous System: Helps shift your body out of stress mode into a state of deep rest and restoration.
Releases Muscle Tension: Gently encourages tight knots and stubborn spasticity to let go.
Boosts Natural Pain Relief: Signals your brain to release endorphins, your body's built-in pain relievers and mood lifters.
Improves Circulation: Enhances blood flow and oxygen to sore or injured tissues to speed up recovery.
This allows your body to recover more efficiently and move more freely.
Our Acupuncture Philosophy:
At Muscle Release Massage, chiropractic care is never a one-size-fits-all solution.
We focus on:
Combining manual massage techniques, and precise IMS dry needling with the gentle, deeply relaxing qualities of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
We focus on:
Identifying the Root Cause: Pinpointing why your pain and systemic imbalances exist.
Integrating Advanced Therapies: Seamlessly combining dry needling and IMS for deep tissue release with comforting, holistic Chinese medicine principles.
Restoring Mind & Body Balance: Promoting neuromuscular recovery while tapping into the calming, stress-relieving qualities of traditional care.
Preventing Pain Recurrence: Equipping your body with long-term resilience and enhanced mobility.
Our services can be integrated with:
Therapeutic massage
Deep tissue massage
Fascial stretch therapy
Kinesiology
Chiropractic Care
This allows us to treat the entire system — not just one area.
What to Expect at Your First Acupuncture Visit
Your experience follows a structured, results-driven process.
Comprehensive Assessment We begin with a detailed health intake to review your medical history, discuss your primary area of pain or systemic concerns, and perform a movement and postural analysis to identify structural dysfunctions.
Personalized Treatment Plan We outline a targeted care strategy explaining needle placement areas, estimated treatment duration, and any complementary modalities (e.g., manual massage, IMS dry needling, cupping) tailored to your specific goals.
Your Treatment Session Ultra-fine, sterile, single-use needles are gently placed at precise anatomical and meridian points. You will then rest comfortably in a quiet setting for 15 to 30 minutes while the needles work to calm your nervous system and release endorphins.
Post-Treatment & Home Care We review immediate post-session recommendations, such as hydration and gentle movement, and provide a personalized schedule for follow-up care to ensure ongoing progress and long-term relief.
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Comprehensive Assessment We begin with a detailed health intake to review your medical history, discuss your primary area of pain or systemic concerns, and perform a movement and postural analysis to identify structural dysfunctions.
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Personalized Treatment Plan We outline a targeted care strategy explaining needle placement areas, estimated treatment duration, and any complementary modalities (e.g., manual massage, IMS dry needling, cupping) tailored to your specific goals.
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Your Treatment Session Ultra-fine, sterile, single-use needles are gently placed at precise anatomical and meridian points. You will then rest comfortably in a quiet setting for 15 to 30 minutes while the needles work to calm your nervous system and release endorphins.
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Post-Treatment & Home Care We review immediate post-session recommendations, such as hydration and gentle movement, and provide a personalized schedule for follow-up care to ensure ongoing progress and long-term relief.
Conditions We Treat
Our Acupuncturist treats a wide range of conditions
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Back & Neck Pain (Lower & Upper) Relieves chronic stiffness, spinal tension, postural stress, and acute muscle spasms along the neck and back.
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Targeted point placement helps reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of tension headaches and migraines by improving circulation and releasing cranial-cervical muscle tightness.
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Deactivates surrounding nerve-compressing muscle tightness and helps soothe burning, tingling, or radiating nerve discomfort down the legs and arms.
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Accelerates recovery times for tennis/golfer’s elbow, rotator cuff injuries, Achilles tendonitis, and overuse strains by releasing myofascial trigger points.
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Shifts the autonomic nervous system into a calm, parasympathetic state to help reduce stress hormones, soothe anxious nervous energy, and promote deeper, restful sleep.
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Releases deep-seated tension in the facial and jaw muscles to alleviate clenching, grinding soreness, and facial pain.
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IBS, Bloating & Constipation: Regulates gut motility and calms gastrointestinal inflammation by balancing parasympathetic nervous system response.
Nausea & Acid Reflux: Reduces digestive distress, motion sickness, and morning sickness.
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Menstrual Cramps & PMS: Eases pelvic cramping, mood swings, and regulates cycle irregularity.
Menopause Symptoms: Helps reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, night sweats, and hormonal sleep disruption.
Fertility Support: Improves blood flow to pelvic organs and is often used alongside IVF/IUI treatments.
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Seasonal Allergies & Sinusitis: Decreases nasal congestion, sinus pressure, and systemic allergic response.
Frequent Colds & Low Immunity: Helps stimulate white blood cell activity and immune function.
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Bell’s Palsy & Facial Paralysis: Encourages nerve regeneration and restores facial muscle tone.
Peripheral Neuropathy: Eases numbness, tingling, and burning in the hands and feet.
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Chronic Fatigue & Burnout: Boosts overall vitality, mental clarity, and stamina.
Mood Regulation: Stimulates serotonin and dopamine production to help manage mild depression, stress, and anxiety.
Why Acupuncture Works
When muscles are overused, injured, or stressed, the body can develop hypertonic trigger points (often referred to as "knots") and localized inflammation. These areas restrict movement, reduce blood circulation, and send persistent pain signals to the brain. Fine-needle stimulation restores balance and movement, while integrated acupuncture therapies:
Reset tight muscle fibers by triggering local twitch responses and deactivating stubborn knots
Stimulate natural pain relief by signaling the central nervous system to release endorphins and enkephalins
Enhance blood circulation to supply oxygen and vital nutrients to healing tissues
Calm the nervous system by shifting your body into a deeply restorative parasympathetic state
Combined with a thorough understanding of neuromuscular anatomy and traditional meridian pathways, this integrated approach leads to faster, more effective, and longer-lasting recovery.
Benefits of Acupuncture
Effective Pain Relief: Reduces acute and chronic discomfort without relying on prescription medications.
Targeted Muscle & Trigger Point Release: Deactivates stubborn "knots" and relieves deep muscular spasticity.
Reduced Inflammation: Decreases localized and systemic swelling to promote faster tissue recovery.
Nervous System Regulation: Shifts the body into a parasympathetic state to decrease stress, ease anxiety, and improve sleep quality.
Enhanced Blood & Nutrient Flow: Improves micro-circulation to supply oxygen and vital nutrients to injured tissues.
Restored Range of Motion: Relieves joint stiffness and muscle tightness to improve daily functional movement and mobility.
When combined with massage, chiro and movement therapy, results are often enhanced.
Why Choose Muscle Release Massage?
We prioritize a higher standard of care by moving away from "quick-fix" models and focusing on long-term recovery through:
We prioritize a higher standard of care by moving away from "quick-fix" models and focusing on long-term recovery through:
Integrated Down-Regulation Therapy: We combine targeted massage techniques with needle therapy to quiet an overactive nervous system, helping your body shift from stress into a deeply calm, receptive state for healing.
Advanced Dry Needling & IMS Expertise: Our practitioners utilize highly precise, advanced dry needling techniques to release stubborn, deep-seated myofascial trigger points that standard surface therapies cannot reach.
Holistic Chinese Medicine Principles: We blend modern neuromuscular techniques with the restorative, balance-restoring benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat both your immediate pain and systemic health.
Patient-Centered Care: Your goals and comfort are our priority. We listen to your history and tailor every treatment plan to fit your specific lifestyle and recovery needs.
Longer Treatment Times: We don't believe in rushed appointments. By spending more 1-on-1 time with you, we ensure a thorough assessment and more comprehensive manual therapy in every session.
Integrated Corrective Exercise: Recovery doesn't end when you leave the table. We include personalized movement advice to improve functional mobility and prevent future injury.
An Evidence-Based Approach: Our methods are grounded in clinical research and anatomical principles, ensuring you receive safe, effective, and lasting results.
Our goal is to help you recover, move better, and stay pain-free.
Direct Billing & Insurance
We make accessing care simple and convenient.
We offer direct billing to most major insurance providers, including:
Sun Life
Manulife
Blue Cross
Canada Life
Green Shield
Desjardi
Our team can help verify your coverage before your appointment.
In most cases, you do not need a doctor’s referral to see a chiropractor.
No Referral Required.
FAQ: Acupuncture Care
When Should You Try Acupuncture?
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You should consider acupuncture if you experience persistent muscle tension, joint pain, frequent tension headaches, nerve discomfort, high stress, or sluggish recovery from injuries. It is also ideal if you are looking for natural pain relief without relying solely on medication.
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
2
Most patients feel little to no discomfort. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin and flexible. You may feel a slight initial sensation upon insertion, followed by a mild ache, heavy feeling, warmth, or tingling, which indicates your nervous system is responding and releasing tension.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
3
Yes. Acupuncture is a very safe, non-invasive procedure when performed by qualified practitioners. We use single-use, pre-sterilized, disposable needles following strict medical and hygienic standards.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
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This depends on your specific condition and health goals. Acute muscle tightness or recent injuries often see notable relief within 1 to 3 sessions, while chronic conditions, long-standing systemic issues, or ongoing stress management typically benefit from a structured plan of 6 or more treatments.
While both use thin needles, standard acupuncture focuses on balancing overall body energy (Qi), soothing the central nervous system, and systemic health. Dry Needling / IMS specifically targets hyperirritable knots ("trigger points") deep within muscle tissue to force them to release and relax. We often combine both techniques for total relief.
What is the Difference Between Acupuncture and Dry Needling (IMS)?
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Yes, absolutely! Combining acupuncture with massage therapy or chiropractic adjustments accelerates recovery. Massage calms the surrounding soft tissue, chiropractic care restores joint alignment, and acupuncture regulates the nervous system and deep myofascial trigger points.
Can I Combine Acupuncture with Massage Therapy or Chiropractic Care?
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In most cases, a doctor’s referral is not required to receive acupuncture treatments. However, we recommend checking with your specific extended health insurance provider to confirm their benefit requirements.
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Do I need a referral?
Yes, we offer direct billing for acupuncture services to most major insurance providers (including Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Blue Cross, Green Shield, Desjardins, and more).
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Do You Offer Direct Billing?
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What Our Clients Say
“They listen to what you need and are able to provide the service specific to you. The clinic is clean and they're following COVID protocols. Highly recommend the clinic!”
— Kristine Connor
“Alix is awesome. Highly recommend if you're looking for someone to work on specific issues or help with sports performance! I always feel much better after my visit. Love the new location too!”
— Alexis Sutherland