Custom Orthotics

Orthotics, which comes from the Greek word orthos, meaning "to straighten" or "align", is a specialty within the medical field concerned with the design, manufacture and application of orthoses. An orthosis is a device used outside of the body to make minor changes to the structure and function of the muscular and skeletal system. An orthosis may be used to:

*Control, guide, limit and/or immobilize an extremity, joint or body segment for a particular reason

*To restrict movement in a given direction

*To assist movement generally

*To reduce weight bearing forces for a particular purpose

*To aid rehabilitation from fractures after the removal of a cast

*To otherwise correct the shape and/or function of the body, to provide easier movement capability or reduce pain

Orthotics combines knowledge of anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, biomechanics and engineering. Patients benefiting from an orthosis may have a condition such as spina bifida or cerebral palsy, or have experienced a spinal cord injury or stroke. Equally, orthoses are sometimes used preventatively or to optimize performance in sports.

The feet are the foundation of the spine and the body. This is true whether a person is standing, walking, or running. Thus, balanced foot structure is vital to ankle, knee, hip and spinal health. If the foot structure is misaligned then the rest of the body will be thrown off balance, causing pain and/or problems with general movement.

Orthotics is the common name for shoe inserts that are intended to correct abnormal walking patterns, mostly caused by foot pronation (the inward roll of the foot), or a collapsed medial arch (in laymen's terms: flat feet). It is estimated that over 80% of people have some type of foot pronation. They are either under-pronators (not enough roll), or over-pronators (too much roll). Over time this can cause severe problems such as plantar fasciitis, heel pain, knee meniscal degeneration, hip pain and back pain.

Dr. Le at ACN Wellness can evaluate and make recommendations to help balance your foundation with comfortable, custom-casted orthotics, heel lifts and arch supports manufactured by Foot Levelers. Call for an appointment today!

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Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a therapeutic specialty of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) used to treat illness, prevent disease, and improve well-being. It can also be used to help a patient to stop smoking, lose weight and to alleviate chronic pain, for example with migraines and low back pain. Acupuncture uses sterile, ultra-thin filaments to stimulate precisely defined, specific acupuncture points along the skin of the body involving various methods such as penetration by thin needles or the application of heat, pressure, or laser light. A common treatment plan for a single complaint usually involves six to twelve treatments, planned out over a few months. A typical session entails lying still while approximately five to twenty needles are inserted into various areas of the body. For the majority of cases, the needles will be left in place for ten to twenty minutes.

            

Unlike needles used to give vaccines or other pharmaceutical injections, the ultra-thin filaments used in acupuncture are extremely fine, about twice the width of a single hair. In a typical session, the skin is first sterilized with alcohol and the needles are inserted, frequently with a plastic guide tube. Needles may be manipulated in various ways, including spinning, flicking, or moving up and down relative to the skin. Often, the needles are stimulated by hand in order to cause a dull, localized, aching sensation that is called “de-qi“, as well as "needle grasp," a tugging feeling felt by the acupuncturist and generated by a mechanical interaction between the needle and skin.

Once de-qi is achieved, further techniques might be utilized which aim to "influence" the de-qi; for example, by certain manipulation the de-qi sensation can be conducted from the needling site towards more distant sites of the body.

The skill level of the acupuncturist may influence how painful the needle insertion is, and a sufficiently skilled practitioner may be able to insert the needles without causing any pain. Many of our acupuncture patients are surprised to discover that acupuncture involves little or no pain. Some patients even describe their treatments as relaxing.

            

At ACN Wellness, we offer a full range of health and wellness services in addition to acupuncture services including herbal formula, yoga and QiGong, massage therapy, nutrition guidance and mind-body counseling.

            

Acupuncture can be effective as a primary treatment therapy or as part of an integrated approach. Our clinical practitioners are licensed acupuncturists and have extensive knowledge and training in the use of acupuncture as a primary treatment therapy or as part of a comprehensive integrated treatment plan.

            

Dr. Francisco Fernandez is one of the best doctors who utilizes Diversified Technique, Activator, Acupuncture, and Flexion/Distraction. With these techniques he is able to gently and effectively treat back pain, sciatica, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, sports injuries, motor vehicle injuries, and work-related injuries.

            

Call the front office and schedule your appointment and begin your path to healing today!