APM is a balance of a yin (spiritual) and yang (sports-minded), modern approach to acupuncture which is utilized in sensitive areas of tight muscle fibers that form after injuries, holding patterns, and overuse. These sensitive areas are called blockages or constrictions which are discovered by palpation of tight tender points and trigger points, which correlate with the patient’s primary complaint. A trigger point is in a muscle that can cause strain and pain throughout the entire muscle. When Dr. Tammy utilizes a grounding and foundational treatment for parasympathetic repair, healing takes place for the root cause of the emotional and mental components for the patient.   In addition, Tammy specializes in treating holding patterns, over compensations, and muscle imbalances that cause physical pain and disturbances in the body. This allows for a well rounded treatment protocol that opens the pathways for health and healing for the patient.

​

These patterns are believed to be the root of the patient’s pain and Dr. Tammy’s approach to treatment is aimed at treating both emotional/ mental disharmony and complementing it with myofascial pain treatment, which is can help repair pain caused by muscular irritation. With Janet Travell’s myofascial trigger points, as well as Chinese and Japanese tight tender points (called ashi points) this allows Tammy to navigate the body for areas of obstruction that can be released. Once discovered, these points will be released through needling of not only the local area of constriction but also through distal points that further enhance the local treatment. Additional added distal points can facilitate the body to further decompress and relax in a parasympathetic state to allow additional healing to take place. 

Dr. Tammy encompasses energetic levels to evaluate and treat with this style. Releasing energy, or Qi, which open blockages at the surface level and supporting the deeper functional and core levels to ensure the body has the support and opening for healing in a circular healing process that allows the body to be uniquely treated on all levels.

​

APM is especially well suited for the modern athlete. This style of acupuncture is unique to athletes as it helps to eliminate pain, optimize muscle strength, and improve mobility and movement thereby increasing range of motion. Needling is the best way to treat trigger points and is often more permanent than other manual trigger point therapies. Often patients don’t feel the needle insertion at all. Once the needles go into the trigger point, the muscle jumps, or has a fasciculation, which feels like a very quick muscle contraction. This fasciculation response helps break the cycle of pain. This technique helps stimulate your body’s own healing capabilities – most especially an anti-inflammatory effect. Here the practitioner is not seen as healer, but rather as catalyst and change-agent who mobilizes the patient’s own healing capacities.