Calf Muscle Strain

While the analgesic effects of traditional acupuncture are explained by the regulation of endorphin and serotonin-based neurotransmitters, the more critical mechanisms in muscle damage recovery are increased local blood flow and the stimulation of growth factors (IGF-1, TGF-β). Dochim (sole needles) induce muscle fiber realignment through the mechanical dissection of scar tissue, while thread embedding continuously transmits signals for collagen synthesis within the subcutaneous tissue over several weeks. Clinical ultrasounds reveal the normalization of muscle echogenicity after treatment. From the Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic: The core of acupuncture treatment in Korean medicine is to unblock the pathways through which Qi and blood flow. Since the pathways running along the inner and posterior calf pass through the gastrocnemius muscle, stimulating this area directly releases blocked Qi and blood within the muscle. Simultaneously circulating the energy that governs the muscles aids in both the nutritional supply to muscle fibers and the recovery of elasticity. At Dongjedang, we identify damaged areas using ultrasound and perform precise needle acupuncture and thread lifting procedures to pursue both pain reduction and structural recovery.