TCM Orthopedics can treat dermal, musculoskeletal, vascular, visceral and meridional injuries caused by external forces, such as slip and fall, sport injury, etc. The conditions can be divided in two main categories—acute and chronic injuries.
1. ACUTE INJURIES
Bruise and Contusion
Muscle strain
Knee pain and injury
Ankle sprain
Muscle spasm (cramp)
2. CHRONIC INJURIES
Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis)
Cervical syndrome (Cervical-brachial syndrome)
WHAT ARE TCM TREATMENTS FOR ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS?
TCM physicians handle various acute injuries according to each specific situation. If a patient comes in with a swollen and inflamed ankle from an ankle sprain, it would not be appropriate to massage or manipulate the joint. The physician will first ice and compress the joint, and then treat the adjacent soft tissues with TuiNa or acupuncture. Soft tissue relaxation and increased circulation can speed up recovery process.
For chronic and overuse injuries, TCM physicians commonly use acupuncture, TuiNa and Chinese herbal medicine to improve blood circulation, remove fluid stasis and relieve pain. In case of atrophy and peripheral weakness, Chinese herbal medicine is often prescribed to nourish Qi (vital energy), blood, and vital organs such as liver and kidneys. These integrative therapies help body restore its function.
WHICH ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS ARE NOT BEST TREATED WITH TCM ORTHOPEDIC TREATMENT?
Patient with acute spinal cord injury with unclear diagnosis, or cord injury symptoms
Patient with fracture, osseous tuberculosis, osteomyelitis or bone tumor
Patient with severe heart, lung, liver, kidney failure, or severe debility
Patient with contagious diseases, acute peritonitis, including perforated gastric and peptic ulcer
Patient with bleeding tendency, bleeding disorders*
*TCM acupuncture and TuiNa may cause mild localized subcutaneous hemorrhage.