Any type of pain issue can be effectively treated with acupuncture. There is a whole cascade of healing mechanisms that are activated when the body receives information from the needle. On a neurological level, the limbic system's reaction to pain is reprogrammed, and endogenous analgesics are released. There is an anti-inflammatory response that controls tissue nitric oxide levels and cytokine production when treating diseases like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Acupuncture also encourages the production of stem cells, which in turn encourages the regeneration of new tissue.

Orthopedic acupuncture, commonly referred to as Trigger Point Therapy or Dry Needling, is a different approach of treating muscular-skeletal dysfunctions. This technique can be used to relieve acute or chronic muscle stress and restore normal muscle function. This process can be accelerated by the electroacupuncture approach.