Plantation Acupuncture
Acupuncture for Pain & Injuries with a Dr. You Can Trust!
Dr. Fiorani has worked with various Olympic and professional athletes with pain, injury, and enhancing athletic performance. He is an avid sports enthusiast including a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do, tennis and soccer player as well as a proud Tough Mudder and Spartan Race finisher. He's also worked along side sports medicine physicians with athletes and events, offering a perspective of treating athletes in an integrative medical setting.
Pain & Musculo-Skeletal Injuries Shown to be Effectively Treated with Acupuncture:
• Low back pain
• Sciatica
• Knee pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Sprains
• Tennis Elbow
• Osteoarthritis and joint pains
• Neck pain and migraines
• Frozen shoulder
• Athletic recovery from fatigue
• Contracture
• Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)
Professional, Evidence-Based Medical Acupuncture
Acupuncture for pain management has been used for centuries. Because it treats your body as a whole, acupuncture not only reduces pain immediately but it can help you avoid future pain in the same areas. It’s so effective that conventional medical doctors often suggest acupuncture treatment for pain.
The most popular form of pain relief that Western medicine has to offer is pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs. If you’ve spent a lot of time in pain, you know that these medications have unreliable results. After a while, their effectiveness wears off. The side effects from prescription medications can often be worse than the pain conditions you are dealing with.
The mechanisms of acupuncture that have been identified by a large body of evidence include promoting blood flow, reducing inflammation, stimulating the body’s healing mechanisms through activating the nervous, immune and endocrine system, and releasing the body’s natural pain killers such as endorphins, norepinephrine and enkephalin, 10-200 times more potent than morphine.
No matter what types of pain you are experiencing, acupuncture has the solution. During your first consultation, your acupuncturist will work with you to identify your pain and create a treatment that is designed to heal your body. In a matter of just one session, you’ll feel the benefits of using acupuncture to treat pain.
Acupuncture is well known for its effectiveness in reducing most types of pain, including sports-related injuries.
Acupuncture can be used to help decrease swelling, spasms and inflammation. Additionally, it can be used to control pain, increase range of motion and help promote healing. Because of its broad range of applications, acupuncture can be used during any of the phases of injury. The focus is not only to treat the injury but also to treat any underlying conditions that may predispose an individual to injuries. This is especially important when treating chronic or recurrent injuries that interfere with life activities or athletic performance.
Injuries occurring from sports are mostly due to trauma or overuse syndromes involving the musculoskeletal system and its soft tissues. Trauma to these soft tissues, including ligaments, tendons and muscles are generally the result from falls, blows, sprains/strains, collisions, compressions crushing and disruptions of the healing processes due to inflammation.
Studies on Acupuncture to Enhance Athletic Performance
Studies have shown that acupuncture has measurable effects on the flow of blood to certain areas of the body, which could in turn boost athletic performance. One such study conducted at the Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine involved athletes running 5,000 meters, and then sitting for acupuncture treatments before they had a chance to catch their breath. The heart rates of the athletes who received the treatments recovered more quickly than those in the control group.
Another study published in the American Journal of Acupuncture measured the effects of acupuncture on anaerobic threshold and work capacity during exercise in healthy young males. Researchers found that individuals in the acupuncture treatment group had higher maximal exercise capacity and were able to perform higher workloads at the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) than individuals in the placebo group. The individuals that received acupuncture also had lower heart rates.
A recent study published in the January, 2008 issue of the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine examined the effects of acupuncture on cyclists. Twenty young (between 18 and 30 years of age) male cyclists underwent three tests per week, riding a stationary bike for 20 kilometers as fast as possible. The volunteers were divided into three groups that either received acupuncture, sham acupuncture or no acupuncture. Acupuncture points were chosen on the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine and administered immediately before cycling. Sham acupuncture was shallow needling of known acupoints. Not only did the study show that the group that received acupuncture had a higher RPE scores compared to the other tests. The men receiving the real acupuncture treatments completed their cycling tests at a higher acceleration than the others.
Olympic & Professional Athletes Now Use Acupuncture:
Many Professional Athletes, Olympic Teams and Sports Clubs are now seeking acupuncture for enhanced athletic performance and increased recovery times. Many organizations now have Acupuncturists on their full-time staff.
Jeremy Shockey, ProBowl tight end, New York Giants: “I Drink, I Party, and I Get Acupuncture”
Patrick Kerney, Atlanta Falcons: There [are] a lot of muscles that are hard to stretch — acupuncture hits those and releases them and makes you feel a lot better.”
Bill Romanowski, former NFL Tough Guy: He ingested Chinese herbs while swallowing 250 supplements a day. At one point in his NFL career, he employed five chiropractors, four acupuncturists, three nutritionists, and two massage therapists.
Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselback: had acupuncture treatments for a deep bruise just above his knee.
Jim McMahon, former Chicago Bears quarterback: sought acupuncture treatment for a painful deep bruise.
David Cone, pitcher with the New York Yankees: After undergoing surgery to repair an aneurysm in 1996 and shoulder surgery in 1997, he began looking for other ways to stay healthy and turned to acupuncture during spring training for various conditions including shoulder pain.
St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire and Pittsburgh Penguins hockey star
Jaromir Jagr: have utilized acupuncture for back pain.
Quilvio Veras, San Diego Padres: the team credits the therapy with helping second basemanget over hamstring problems.
PAIN, INJURY & SPORTS MEDICINE
"I have suffered from lower back injuries for the past 14 years. During this time period I have had 2 major back surgeries. I currently have another herniated disc in my lower back. I have been to multiple pain doctors. They have given me medications from vicodin to an array of muscle relaxers. I have had epidurals and all sorts of assorted treatments for the pain. A few months ago, I was told about Mike. Prior to him, I had never been to the acupuncture, and to be honest, I was a bit skeptical about it. I am not a fan of needles and the thought of having multiple needles inside me made me uncomfortable. During my first session, Mike took the time to explain the whole process with me. He guaranteed me there would be no pain from the needles and at many times I might even feel them at all. I have to say he was right, I didn't feel the majority of them. During the process of the first session, he went over in detail exactly what he was doing and why. He made me feel very comfortable and relaxed. I left there that day and the pain in my back significantly decreased. I have returned for multiple treatments and my back pain is nearly gone. I no longer take any medications for my back and I feel like I can live my life normally without having the burden of constant back pain. I am very grateful towards Mike and I would recommend him to everyone and anyone who will listen to me giving him praise."
-B.R., Wilton Manors, FL
"I was lucky to find an amazing Acupuncturist so conveniently located. I've suffered with low back pain due to a birth defect that wasn't diagnosed until I was 19 years old. After just 2 treatments I started feeling relief and stopped taking pain meds. After getting that under control, Mike helped me through a difficult period of the blues. After just one incredible emotional treatment, I realized I had not been grieving for those people that had passed in my life. Such a Huge burden lifted off my shoulders. :)
These are just a couple of the reasons I visit Plantation Acupuncture. What an amazing, relaxing, zen type setting and an incredible, thoughtful, and sincere Acupuncturist! Give them a try, I promise you won't be disappointed!!!"
-J.N., Plantation, FL
"After years of back and hip pain and countless visits to doctors, I finally have found treatment that has worked to give me relief from pain and increased my mobility. Regular maintenance visits have allowed me to continue to enjoy a renewed active lifestyle. Michael Fiorani's highly intuitive approach to acupuncture is amazing. His practice has such a tranquil atmosphere you leave incredibly soothed and relaxed! Don't hesitate for a moment to make an appointment and experience his healing touch. Thanks Mike!!"
-N.R., Plantation, FL
"I went to Mike with shoulder pain. I was skeptical at first about how needles were going to help with the pain in my shoulder. I cannot tell anyone how surprised I was to have so much relief after just one visit!!! I even called him that night to tell him my pain had gone from an 8 to a 4 on a 10 point scale. Mike can attest to the fact that I had to have a towel under my elbows to keep them propped up so I wasn't in pain while getting treated and after just 2 treatments I no longer had to use them to prop up my arms. I can't say enough good things about how mike handles the whole process from making you feel so comfortable from the time you walk in the door until you leave. I know some people are afraid of needles, don't be he was talking to me and had put most of them in before I even knew he had done it!!! That's how good he is!!"
-R.S., Plantation, FL
"I had been suffering from a lower abdominal pain for some time before coming here. Every medication or treatment doctors prescribed for me ended up being completely useless. Eventually a friend convinced me to come to Plantation Acupuncture and I couldn't thank her enough. The acupuncture was quick and actually relaxing. Not one bit of pain was felt from the procedure. Within 2 treatments and herbal medication the pain was completely gone and I haven't had any pain since. Michael was incredibly knowledgable when explaining the procedure and came off as a true professional. I highly recommend this acupuncturist."
-A.F., Parkland, FL
"As an elderly lady, my sciatica and back pain kept getting worse and worse, no matter what medical therapy I tried. I was finally able to experience relief after acupuncture, and can walk normally again. I highly recommend Michael to anyone needing pain or healthcare."
-I.P., Parkland, FL
"Michael made me feel incredibly comfortable throughout the treatment and took the time during our first consultation to lsitent to all my presenting symptoms and background of prior injuries. Afters years of having pain in my left knee from 2 surgeries, Michael was able to dminish the pain after a couple sessions! I have referred several co-workers to him in addition and one in particular reported her neck pain was gone after only 2 visits! Why would I ever go to anyone else! Thank you Michael for helping me!"
-L.D., Boca Raton, FL