Treatments
Gokavi Transverse Technique
The Gokavi Transverse Technique (GTT) is a medical acupuncture treatment, pioneered by Cynthia Gokavi, which has proven quite effective in the treatment of a number of chronic pain disorders. GTT is a dry needling acupuncture technique, which utilizes high frequency electrical stimulation to aid in the treatment and management of chronic myofascial pain release.
How does GTT work?
GTT involves the use of extremely fine acupuncture needles into shortened muscles. GTT differs from other dry needling techniques in that it utilizes a high frequency electrical stimulation pre-needling and advocates transverse orientation of the acupuncture needle into the targeted muscle. Acupuncture needles are inserted in a specific transverse direction to form a closed circuit, which encompasses the treatment area. Needles are then electrically stimulated with two different frequency currents. Electrical stimulation results in relaxation and analgesia of muscle tissue enclosed within the circuit. Muscles are then lifted and needled transversely through their entire thickness to release palpable trigger points and shortened muscle bands.
Came here after trying chiro and it’s helped a lot. I’m understanding how my body moves and what I can do to keep it moving. Jade’s a super big help! The staff is always so nice and they’re great at their job.
Courtney Lefebvre
What are the advantages of GTT?
There are numerous advantages to GTT:
- Decreased dry needling pain
- Decreased post treatment soreness
- Larger areas can be treated in a shorter period of time
- Less needling is required during subsequent treatment sessions
- Fewer treatments are required
- Time between sessions can be lengthened
- Increased patient compliance
- Results are immediate
- The transverse orientation of the needle decreases the risk of injury
Who is a good candidate for GTT?
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should consider GTT:
- Pain in the absence of ongoing tissue damage
- Delay in the onset of pain after a precipitating injury
- Burning, searing or continuous deep, aching pain
- Brief shooting or stabbing pain
- A mild stimulus causing extreme pain
- Loss of joint range of motion
- Pain caused by muscle shortening
- Chronic muscular pain
- Chronic pain that has failed to respond to other treatments
- Idiopathic pain and pain exceeding normal healing times
- Pain from muscular trigger points
- Release of adhesions and scar tissue
- Increasing joint mobility
What conditions can GTT treat?
GTT has proven particularly effective in treating chronic pain as well as many other types of pain such as:
- Sciatica
- Tennis and Golfer’s elbow
- Back pain
- Whiplash
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- IT band syndrome
- Sport-related injuries
For more information visit the Gokavi Transverse Technique website.