We Listen to Your Story

Tell me about your injury, your goals, and what you've already tried. Whether you're dealing with chronic pain or looking to optimize performance, I want to understand exactly where you're starting from.

Quick Assessment

I'll do a brief physical assessment to identify movement patterns and areas of concern. No needles during the consultation—just observation and gentle testing to understand what's going on.

Create Your Game Plan

Based on what I learn, I'll explain which stage of care you're in and outline a personalized treatment approach. You'll know exactly what to expect and how acupuncture can help your specific situation.

Answer All Your Questions

Nervous about needles? Wondering how acupuncture actually works? Curious about timeline and costs? This is your time to get all the answers you need to feel confident moving forward.

Simple: I want to make sure we're a good fit before you invest in treatment. Not every athlete needs acupuncture, and not every case is right for my approach. The consultation helps both of us determine if this is the path that will get you the results you're looking for.

No pressure, no sales pitch—just honest assessment and education.

• Clear understanding of what's causing your pain or limiting your performance

• Specific treatment plan tailored to your sport and goals

• Realistic timeline for seeing results

• Confidence that you're making the right choice for your body

Even if we determine acupuncture isn't the best option for you right now, you'll leave with valuable insights about your condition and alternative approaches to consider.

The consultation takes place at Funktion Acupuncture in Kearny Mesa, where I have access to state-of-the-art facilities and can provide the most comprehensive assessment possible.

The majority of patients will experience improvement the very first time they come in.

Acupuncture is a very personal medicine. How many treatments you need is determined by the severity of your condition and how long you have been experiencing the condition. How I like to describe acupuncture is it is like going to the gym. If you go once you'll feel good but if you don't go back you won't build on the benefits of your previous treatments.

Generally speaking, I like to tell my patients that everyone is different and that how they progress through the stages of care is dependent on many variables. Seeing how you respond after the first few treatments will give us a better gauge of evaluating how things may go.

During your free consultation, I'll assess your specific situation and give you a realistic timeline based on your individual needs.

Not at all. Acupuncture needles are as thin as a hair—ten times thinner than needles used to draw blood. You might feel a brief tap when the needle goes in, followed by a warming, tingling, or slight numbness sensation.

Most athletes actually find it relaxing. Over 75% of my patients fall asleep during treatment, and many say it's the most relaxed they've felt in months.

There are no side effects from acupuncture. In fact in China patients will go to acupuncture everyday until they get better. On occasion, a needle may cause slight bruising.

What you WILL likely experience: better sleep, reduced stress, improved recovery, and of course, less pain. Many athletes report feeling more mentally focused after treatments too.

Acupuncture stimulates your body's natural healing processes by improving blood flow, releasing hormones and antibodies, and activating your nervous system. For athletes, this means:

• Faster recovery from training and competition

• Reduced muscle tension and inflammation

• Better pain management without medications

• Improved sleep and stress management

• Enhanced mental focus and performance

I also integrate motor points, trigger points, and electrical stimulation specifically for sports injuries.

I don't accept insurance directly, but I gladly accept Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards. Many athletes find this actually works better since there are no insurance restrictions on treatment frequency or duration.

Absolutely. All needles are individually packaged, single-use, and disposed of as medical waste. There's no medicine on the needles—the healing comes from your body's natural response to the acupuncture stimulation.

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes—shorts and a t-shirt or tank top work perfectly. This gives me access to the areas I need to treat while keeping you comfortable throughout the session.

As an athlete myself (14 marathons completed, currently training for triathlons), I understand the demands you place on your body. I've trained under the top sports medicine acupuncturists in the field and integrate both Eastern and Western approaches.

Most importantly, I don't just treat symptoms—I work with you through all 3 stages of care to get you back stronger than before and keep you there.