Orthopedic Clinic

Restore the health and balance of your body with our cupping therapy, dry needling and sports acupuncture treatments.

Our orthopedic sessions combine dry needling and cupping to target chronic pain, pain due to repetitive use as well as sports injuries. These sessions use focused dry needling, cupping therapy and sports acupuncture to help relieve pain.

What is dry needling?

In addition to traditional acupuncture, we offer dry needling at our location in Portland, Maine. Also known as trigger point acupuncture, dry needling focuses on specific areas (trigger points) in the muscle that are tense or painful. Frequently, these develop during repetitive movements and overuse or as a result of injury. Trigger points can cause local pain or weakness in a muscle but they can also account for pain in other locations in the body or referred pain.

Using the needles at these trigger point locations we are able to release painful spots and restore balance in the muscles and adjacent joints. We recommend dry needling therapy as a complement to traditional acupuncture to help jumpstart the healing process for challenging orthopedic issues and pain.

What is cupping?

We also offer individualized cupping therapy during our orthopedic sessions. Cupping therapy is performed with glass cups placed over muscles. Suction is applied to cups to help release tension or knots in the muscle. During an orthopedic session, your acupuncturist will combine moving cupping (where glass cups slide over tense muscles) with stationary cupping to target your specific area of pain.

What is sports acupuncture?

Alongside comprehensive orthopedic care, we provide specialized sports acupuncture services meticulously designed to meet the distinct requirements of athletes. Sports acupuncture focuses on optimizing athletic performance, preventing injuries, and expediting recovery. Our skilled acupuncturists work with athletes of all levels, from weekend warriors to elite competitors, to address issues like muscle tension, joint pain, and sports-related injuries. 

By using acupuncture techniques targeted to enhance circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote natural pain relief, we help athletes achieve their peak performance potential and maintain their competitive edge. Whether you're preparing for a big game or recovering from an intense workout, our sports acupuncture services are designed to keep you at the top of your game.

Meet Our Orthopedic Provider

"As an acupuncturist, I am passionate about helping people feel better. Our orthopedic offerings are an important complement to traditional acupuncture for pain. I’m excited to offer individualized cupping and dry needling in our orthopedic shifts to address pain and expedite healing."

SARAH BELISLE LAc, MAc, PhD

What People Are Saying

"I think Sarah is wonderful, she has helped my chronic pain better than anyone I have seen in the last 15 years. She's knowledgeable and helps make me feel at ease when introducing me to new treatments.”

“Sarah has helped me so much with a rotator cuff and leg cramping issues. I am very grateful.“

“Sarah is a caring and intuitive practitioner. She’s able to tune into my needs on any particular day and I always feel immediate and long-term benefits after each treatment. The ease in which she explains the medicine behind what she’s doing helps me better understand my own mind and body’s needs. Sarah has helped me tremendously with sports injuries and pain, as well balancing anxiety and mood.”

"Professional and quality care always! I’ve been so happy with acupuncture treatment and how it has helped control the pain I was experiencing from frozen shoulder."

“Sarah is a very caring, intuitive and skilled clinician and she has helped me with various medical issues - I always leave the office feeling better!”