Services
Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses thin, sterile, single-use needles placed at chosen points on the body. Naoki decides the points after listening to you and checking how you move, then explains them before any needle goes in.
Who usually comes in
Mostly people who train several days a week: runners with long weeks of downhill miles, skiers on the skin track, climbers with sore forearms. Some come because a coach, a physical therapist or a friend suggested it, and some because they want to try something other than rest.
In the room
A few fine needles and a quiet room. Needles are single-use, opened in front of you and put in a sharps container when the visit is over.
What a visit is like, in order
Afterward you may feel relaxed, sleepy or lightly sore. A small bruise can show up at a needle site.
- 01
Step 1: We talk
Naoki asks about your sport, your season, what is coming up and the medicines you take.
- 02
Step 2: A short assessment
He watches how you stand and move and presses along the muscles you use most.
- 03
Step 3: The needles go in
A few needles are placed, often in the legs, back, shoulders or forearms, and left in for about 20 to 30 minutes. Say so if anything is too strong.
- 04
Step 4: You rest
The room is quiet and Naoki checks in. When it is over, he takes the needles out and talks through what to do over the next day or two.
Tell us first
Say any of these when you book, and again at the visit.
Pregnancy
If you are or might be pregnant, tell us. Some points are avoided, and we may suggest you check with your doctor first.
Blood thinners or bleeding
If you take a blood thinner or bleed or bruise easily, bruising is more likely, and we change how we work.
A pacemaker or implant
Some visits use a small current through the needles, and that is not suitable with a pacemaker or an implanted device.
Lymph nodes removed
If you have had lymph nodes removed, we keep needles away from that side.
Worry about needles
Say so. We can start slowly, begin with other methods or stop whenever you ask.
A race or event soon
Tell us the date. We may space or shorten visits ahead of it, and we will say what you might feel afterward.
How many visits, and what this does not do
Naoki suggests a plan after the first visit and looks at it again as you go. It depends on your calendar and how you respond, and you can stop whenever you like.
What it does not do
It does not replace your doctor's care, a physical therapist or a coach, and we do not ask you to stop any medicine. We do not promise a result: people respond differently.
When to see a doctor instead
See a doctor or an urgent care clinic first for sharp pain after a fall or a hit, a swollen joint you can't put weight on, a joint that gives way, new numbness or weakness, or a fever. For chest pain, trouble breathing or any emergency, call 911.