Before and After: A/C Separation

Anterior view of shoulder joint with muscles. SOURCE: Based on AMuscsk_20131017_v0_001.

This 40 year old gentleman separated his acromioclavicular joint 2 years ago, in the April of 2016. Since then, he’s had shoulder pain and a lot of crunching noise with movement.

I treated him with acupuncture and medical massage. The goal was to break up fascial adhesions (scar tissue) and his muscles working properly again.

These pictures were taken on 4/3/18 and 4/25/18. He received 4 sessions of care.

First, look at the outside curves of the shoulders. He is much more symmetrical in the after pic. His deltoid (“shoulder cap” muscle”) has filled out now that he’s using it. Secondly, the shoulder girdle is no longer being held

forward. See the difference in the shadow at Arrow 2? And the A/C joint isn’t sticking out as sharply.

Here in the side view, you can see how the shoulder has rotated back to its normal position. In the Before pic you can’t see his chest at all at the top. His scapula (shoulder blade) is also sticking out in the Before shot.

Most importantly, the patient reports less pain, less crunching, better range of motion, and generally better performance. :)

Before and After #2

I usually forget to take Before and After shots but will try to make more of an effort in the future. They are so much fun! Here, we are looking along the patient’s back, from the head towards the feet. She came in with upper and mid-back tension. I found a series of 4 ribs out of place on the right side. After some gentle acupuncture and medical massage, everything was back where it should be and she was thrilled to find that she could take a deeper breath than before.

Before Acupuncture - note the slope of her asymmetrical posterior ribcage.

BEFORE – note the slope of her asymmetrical posterior ribcage.

After Acupuncture - now her ribs are properly positioned, her back is even, and she can breathe more deeply!

AFTER – now her ribs are properly positioned, her back is even, and she can breathe more deeply!

Cosmetic Acupuncture

Cosmetic Acupuncture: Look younger naturally!

People are often surprised to learn I’m 41 years old. Here’s a quote from one of my patients back in Philly:

“While seeing Sharon for something totally unrelated, the subject of cosmetic acupuncture came up and I was willing to try it.

After a couple of sessions it seemed that I was using less foundation to even out my “Irish skin”.  That would be pale coloring with red blotches here and there.  Along with the coloring, my pores looked smaller.  Then my husband looked at me one night and remarked that I’d lost that “worried look”, the furrowed brow.

Lines and creases became smoother after a few more sessions and just recently a friend of mine, bemoaning the lines from her lips, added that it wasn’t something I needed to worry about. Those creases had really diminished.

It’s not a face lift or Botox, but I didn’t want to look like a cat.  Sharon can explain exactly what happens.  It makes sense and it’s completely natural!”

I’m terrible about remembering to take pictures, but fortunately a Portland patient snapped these:

BEFORE

AFTER

Look at the difference in the grooves above and below her mouth! Her jawline is also smoother, less “jowl-y.” A 72 year-old beauty!

Here she is in progress: One of her co-workers was so impressed, she started coming in, too.

Acupuncture facial rejuvenation uses special, tiny needles at strategic points. You can expect reduction or erasure of fine lines and the softening of deeper ones. Additionally, you may experience the firming of jowls and a reduction in the size of under-eye bags. It is not unusual for clients to report enhanced skin tone, increased energy and brighter eyes.

Here’s how it works: Local acupuncture increases collagen production, improves muscle tone, and reduces sagging around the eyes and neck. It helps eliminate puffiness by eliminating excess fluids, improves and evens out facial color, moisturizes the skin by increasing circulation of blood and lymph to the face, and reduces stress evident in the face.

If you want a more detailed perspective on how it works, read these articles: Part 1 and 2. Part 3 is for fellow acupuncturists.

Not surprisingly, if you are a smoker or sun-worshipper, you will need to make a longer commitment in order to achieve results. Session of cosmetic acupuncture only are $55 and take half an hour. You can also combine this treatment with some types of regular sessions: Please call for more information.

Packages of 5 treatments are available for $245. They make a great gift, too!