On the day of treatment give yourself a break. Take the day off from exercise, strenuous activity, heavy lifting and anything that makes the condition worse. We suggest that you drink extra water, eat extra protein, and use the application of heat to alleviate any soreness felt. It is not uncommon to be sore, like you would after a strenuous workout for 12 hours or so after being needled.

Can I exercise, do my physical therapy, massage, etc. afterwards?

No. It is best to wait at least 24 hours after treatment to allow the acupuncture to settle in. If you are seeking treatment due to an injury from an activity such as running or standing it is best to avoid or limit doing the activity that caused the injury until treatment is complete.

Will I notice a difference right after?

In most cases you will notice at least a 30% difference within a few hours of treatment. If you don’t, then possibly acupuncture is not the appropriate treatment for your illness/condition.