Acupuncture

Acupuncture in Newmarket

Spectrum Physiotherapy offers acupuncture in Newmarket with Ruth Yeung, CAT(C), R.Ac, a Registered Acupuncturist in Ontario who is also a Certified Athletic Therapist. Because acupuncture is offered in the same clinic as physiotherapy, massage therapy and chiropractic care, your acupuncture can be coordinated with your other treatment when that’s helpful. Our physiotherapists also provide dry needling as part of physiotherapy treatment (see below).

Our clinic is in the Dixon Medical Centre at 531 Davis Drive, Suite 101, in Newmarket, and we see patients from across York Region.

Meet Your Acupuncturist

Ruth Yeung has a dual background in Athletic Therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is a graduate of York University’s Athletic Therapy program and the Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, so she brings together Western orthopaedic assessment and Eastern therapeutic techniques.

Ruth has served as Head Athletic Therapist at Redeemer University and has a long background in hockey, from AAA minor hockey to her current role with a Junior C team. She sees everyone from high-performance athletes to weekend warriors and people managing everyday aches and pains. You can read more about Ruth and the rest of our clinicians on our team page.

What Acupuncture May Help With

Acupuncture uses very fine needles placed at specific points on the body. People most often come to us for acupuncture to help with:

  • Chronic low back and neck pain
  • Knee and other joint pain, including osteoarthritis
  • Headaches and muscle tension
  • Stress and sleep concerns
  • Pain alongside a physiotherapy or rehabilitation program

Research suggests acupuncture can modestly reduce pain for some people with chronic low back pain and knee osteoarthritis, although it doesn’t work the same way for everyone. Learn more in our article Can Acupuncture Help Arthritis and Chronic Pain?

Possible benefits of acupuncture

  • A drug-free option that may help reduce pain and muscle tension
  • Can be combined with physiotherapy, massage therapy or chiropractic care in the same clinic
  • Many people find treatment relaxing and feel calmer afterwards
  • Often covered by extended health plans under a separate acupuncture benefit

Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture vs Medical Acupuncture and Dry Needling

Spectrum offers two kinds of needling, and both use very fine, sterile, single-use needles. The difference is the training behind them and how the treatment is planned.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture is provided by our Registered Acupuncturist. It is based on the principles of Chinese medicine, which look at the body as a whole and use specific acupuncture points along pathways called meridians. Treatment may address pain as well as broader concerns such as stress, sleep and general wellbeing. In Ontario, acupuncturists are regulated by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario.

Medical (contemporary) acupuncture and dry needling are provided by our physiotherapists as one part of a physiotherapy treatment plan. They are based on a physiotherapy assessment and on Western anatomy and physiology rather than Chinese medicine theory. Physiotherapists in Ontario need additional training and must be authorized by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario before they can perform acupuncture. At Spectrum, dry needling is provided by Dwayne Rebello, MSc PT, one of our clinical directors, Victoria Geropoulos, MSc PT, and Paul Parikh, PT, PhD, who completed his dry needling certification as part of his training in the United States.

With dry needling, needles are placed in tight or sensitive areas of muscle that are contributing to your pain or limiting your movement. Needles are placed in tight or sensitive areas of muscle that are contributing to your pain or limiting your movement. It is used as one part of a physiotherapy treatment plan, alongside exercise, hands-on manual therapy and education, for problems such as:

  • Neck and back pain, and neck-related headaches
  • Shoulder, hip and knee pain
  • Sports injuries and muscle strains
  • Ongoing muscle tension that limits movement

Research suggests dry needling may help reduce pain in the short term for some muscle and joint conditions, especially when it is combined with exercise. Your physiotherapist will explain whether it’s a good fit for you. Dry needling is part of your physiotherapy session, so it is usually billed under your physiotherapy benefits. Learn more about sports rehabilitation at Spectrum.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

Your first visit begins with a conversation about your symptoms, health history and goals. Your acupuncturist will then choose a small number of acupuncture points for your treatment, which may not always be where you feel pain.

Sterile, single-use needles are used. Most people feel little or no discomfort as the needles go in, and may notice a dull ache, heaviness or tingling around the point. Needles are usually left in place for up to about 20 minutes, and treatment may also include gentle heat, mild electrical stimulation or cupping. Many people feel relaxed afterwards.

The number of sessions varies from person to person. A common course is one or two sessions a week for several weeks, then reviewing how you’re responding.

Safety: please let us know if you are pregnant, take blood-thinning medication, have a pacemaker or have a bleeding disorder, so your treatment can be adjusted.

Acupuncture FAQ

Acupuncture needles are much finer than the needles used for injections. Most people feel only a brief pinch or nothing at all as the needle goes in, followed by a dull ache, heaviness or tingling. Let your acupuncturist know if anything feels uncomfortable so the treatment can be adjusted.

Many extended health plans include coverage for acupuncture from a registered acupuncturist. This is usually a separate benefit from physiotherapy, so check your plan’s acupuncture coverage and any requirements before your first visit. Ask us whether we can direct bill your plan.

No. You can book acupuncture directly. Some insurance plans require a referral for reimbursement, so it’s worth checking your plan.

Yes. Spectrum is a multidisciplinary clinic, so you can see an acupuncturist, physiotherapist, massage therapist or chiropractor in one place, and your care can be coordinated between them when that helps.

It depends on your concern and how you respond. Many people start with one or two sessions a week for several weeks, and your acupuncturist will review your progress with you along the way.

Both use very fine, sterile needles. At Spectrum, traditional acupuncture is provided by our Registered Acupuncturist and is based on Chinese medicine, while dry needling is provided by our physiotherapists as part of a physiotherapy treatment plan that targets specific muscles contributing to your pain. Traditional acupuncture is usually billed under the acupuncture benefit of your extended health plan, and dry needling under your physiotherapy benefit. If you’re not sure which is right for you, ask us and we’ll help you choose.

Book an Acupuncture or Dry Needling Appointment

To book acupuncture with Ruth Yeung, dry needling with one of our physiotherapists, or to ask a question, contact Spectrum Physiotherapy or call 905-853-2511.

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