by Theodore Levarda
Theodore Levarda
Licensed Acupuncturist
Acupuncture for Pain & Stress Related Disorders
New York City, NY
Recent Reviews
5.0 of 5
(3)
License, Credentials & Experience
Licensed Acupuncturist
New York State Office of the Professions (NYSED)
, #6533
Book a Service
Endorsements
Pain
Stress Fractures
Crohn's Disease
Practice Locations & Hours
Learn More About Theodore Levarda
About me
I am a licensed acupuncturist and board certified in Oriental medicine (acupuncture & Chinese herbs). I blend 3 styles of acupuncture along with Chinese herbs, cupping, electroacupuncture, gua sha, heat lamp therapy, and moxibustion as needed to provide unique and individualized treatments.
My Philosophy of Care
My story is similar to many of my acupuncture patients. I was dealing with chronic pain and spent the better part of two years going to doctors, physical therapists, osteaopaths, personal trainers, yoga classes, swimming, and anyone else that claimed they could help with chronic pain. I tried medications, cortisone injections, and once an epidural in my back was recommended I decided to reassess the situation. I was left frustrated that the solution was to keep applying band-aids rather than understand the whole picture and underlying cause of my pain. I finally found my way to acupuncture, which was the only thing that provided lasting relief. My experience made me decide to pursue acupuncture as a career and help others that are struggling with chronic health issues.
What You Can Expect On Your First Visit
I hope that most patients leave their first visit feeling understood and more hopeful about their ability to heal from whatever it is they are coming in for. They usually feel more relaxed, less tense, and in less pain than when they came in. When using trigger point or muscle release techniques it is normal to be sore for a day or two after treatment as if you did a workout.
My Inspiration
Acupuncture works on many levels. On a physical level it works by releasing pain relieving endorphins, rebalancing the nervous system to promote relaxation, improving circulation, and reducing inflammation. On a deeper level is promotes an awareness of our mind-body connection by bringing attention to areas that store tension in our bodies. It takes a holistic view of health which encourages us to be inquisitive about the root causes of our health imbalances.
Practice Details
Insurance accepted
Out-of-network
Out of Network
Gallery
Questions & Answers
Theodore Levarda Answers
It depends on the case - the nerves involved and the degree of damage. An acupuncturist would be better able to assess in person. In general, acupuncture can help with neuropathy.
For example, one study showed that acupuncture helped nerve conduction in peripheral neuropathy (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17355547).
Theodore Levarda Answers
Yes - acupuncture can help hip pain.
There are many types of hip pain. It is important to rule out any serious hip conditions via imaging like x-ray and MRI. In many cases those will come up clean and the hip pain will be due to muscular tightness.
There are many muscles that attach to the hip and the ones that are involved depend on where the pain is. For example sciatica can be caused by tightness in the piriformis (if the pain travels down the back of the leg) or the gluteus minimus (if the pain travels down the side of the leg).
My approach to hip pain due to muscle tightness involves using a combination of traditional acupuncture points as well as incorporating trigger point release in any muscles that are involved.
I generally look for knots or trigger points in the low back, gluteal, hip rotator, hamstring, and quadriceps muscles since they all attach somewhere in the hip.
Releasing any tension or trigger points in these muscles will help reduce hip pain and increase range of motion because they all attach into the hip area. When a muscle is tight it pulls on the attaching structures which can result in pain and restricted range of motion.
Theodore Levarda Answers
Yes - acupuncture can help frozen shoulder and chronic shoulder pain.
I commonly see very tight shoulder muscles in frozen shoulder patients. This can include any of the muscles that attach to the shoulder. My approach to this condition involves using a combination of traditional acupuncture points as well as incorporating trigger point release in any muscles that are involved.
I generally look for knots or trigger points in the following muscles:
infraspinatus, deltoid, scalene, supraspinatus, pectoralis major/minor, biceps, corachobrachialis, and latissimus dorsi.
Releasing any tension in these muscles will help reduce shoulder pain and increase range of motion because they all attach into the shoulder area. When a muscle is tight it pulls on the attaching structures which can result in pain and restricted range of motion.
Theodore Levarda Answers
It depends on the case - the nerves involved and the degree of damage. An acupuncturist would be better able to assess in person. In general, acupuncture can help with neuropathy.
For example, one study showed that acupuncture helped nerve conduction in peripheral neuropathy (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17355547).
Theodore Levarda Answers
Yes - acupuncture can help hip pain.
There are many types of hip pain. It is important to rule out any serious hip conditions via imaging like x-ray and MRI. In many cases those will come up clean and the hip pain will be due to muscular tightness.
There are many muscles that attach to the hip and the ones that are involved depend on where the pain is. For example sciatica can be caused by tightness in the piriformis (if the pain travels down the back of the leg) or the gluteus minimus (if the pain travels down the side of the leg).
My approach to hip pain due to muscle tightness involves using a combination of traditional acupuncture points as well as incorporating trigger point release in any muscles that are involved.
I generally look for knots or trigger points in the low back, gluteal, hip rotator, hamstring, and quadriceps muscles since they all attach somewhere in the hip.
Releasing any tension or trigger points in these muscles will help reduce hip pain and increase range of motion because they all attach into the hip area. When a muscle is tight it pulls on the attaching structures which can result in pain and restricted range of motion.
Theodore Levarda Answers
Yes - acupuncture can help frozen shoulder and chronic shoulder pain.
I commonly see very tight shoulder muscles in frozen shoulder patients. This can include any of the muscles that attach to the shoulder. My approach to this condition involves using a combination of traditional acupuncture points as well as incorporating trigger point release in any muscles that are involved.
I generally look for knots or trigger points in the following muscles:
infraspinatus, deltoid, scalene, supraspinatus, pectoralis major/minor, biceps, corachobrachialis, and latissimus dorsi.
Releasing any tension in these muscles will help reduce shoulder pain and increase range of motion because they all attach into the shoulder area. When a muscle is tight it pulls on the attaching structures which can result in pain and restricted range of motion.
Articles
Theodore Levarda Reviews
5.0 of 5
(3)
Theodore Levarda
