831-401-5141
Neuroscience-Informed Acupuncture & Integrative Care in Santa Cruz
Evidence-based acupuncture, electroacupuncture, herbal medicine, and microneedling for pain, injury recovery, metabolic health, and skin rejuvenation.
Now accepting Medi-Cal!
Acupuncture for Back, Neck & Shoulder in Santa Cruz
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ava Zack, DAcHM, LAc — Doctor of Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist
Musculoskeletal pain
Back and neck pain has a way of taking over your life — the stiffness when you wake up, the ache that builds through a workday at a desk, the shoulder that won't let you sleep on your side, the spasm that flares when you lift something the wrong way. If you've cycled through rest, stretching, painkillers, and waiting for it to resolve on its own, you're in good company: musculoskeletal pain is the most common reason people seek acupuncture, and it's also where the research support is strongest.
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As both a licensed acupuncturist and a Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist, I treat back, neck, and shoulder pain with a combination of tools most clinics don't offer under one roof.
How I Treat Musculoskeletal Pain
Finding the actual source. Pain is often felt somewhere different from where it originates. A "shoulder problem" may trace to the neck; sciatica-like leg pain may come from a tight piriformis muscle rather than the spine. Your first visit includes a careful assessment so we're treating causes, not just symptoms.
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Trigger point therapy and dry needling. Myofascial trigger points — irritable knots in muscle tissue — are a frequent driver of chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain, and they respond well to precise needling. My trigger point certification means this isn't an add-on technique; it's a core part of how I work.
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Electroacupuncture for stubborn pain. Adding gentle electrical stimulation to the needles provides stronger, more sustained input to the nervous system. I use it frequently for chronic low back pain and long-standing injuries, where the goal is not just relief but retraining how your nervous system processes pain signals.
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Supporting the whole system. Chronic pain rarely exists in isolation — sleep, stress, and inflammation all feed into it. Where appropriate, treatment may include cupping, heat therapy, herbal support, and practical lifestyle guidance.
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Large-scale clinical research has found acupuncture to be a useful option for chronic back and neck pain, and it's now included in major clinical guidelines for low back pain management. My treatment planning is guided by that research and by measurable progress — range of motion, sleep quality, function at work — not just how you feel on the table.
What Treatment Looks Like
Your first visit (about 75–90 minutes). A detailed history and physical assessment, an honest conversation about what's driving your pain, and your first treatment — typically acupuncture, often with trigger point work, cupping, or heat therapy included.
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Follow-up sessions (about 60 minutes). Acute flare-ups may improve in just a few visits. Chronic pain that's built up over years usually calls for a series of weekly treatments — commonly 6–10 — before spacing sessions out as you improve. We'll set expectations together at your first visit and adjust as we go.
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Workers' comp and collaborative care. I regularly treat work-related injuries and collaborate with physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors, and case managers, with an emphasis on functional recovery and clear clinical communication.
What Patients Say
"Ava has helped me so much with my piriformis syndrome as well as neck and shoulder pain from work. Her acupuncture sessions are the only thing that have provided me any relief from the discomfort. She has a calm, caring presence and is always attentive… I always leave feeling better." — Santa Cruz patient
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from dry needling at a physical therapy clinic? Dry needling targets trigger points — and I do that too, with dedicated certification in myofascial trigger point therapy. The difference is scope: as a Doctor of Acupuncture, I combine trigger point needling with electroacupuncture, classical acupuncture, and whole-system care addressing the sleep, stress, and inflammatory factors that keep pain cycles going.
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Does it hurt? Acupuncture needles are far thinner than injection needles, and most people find sessions relaxing. Trigger point needling can produce a brief muscle twitch or deep ache — that's the knot releasing — followed by relief. I always work within your comfort level.
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How quickly will I feel better? Many patients feel some change after the first one to three sessions, especially with recent injuries. Pain you've had for years takes longer to unwind — we'll set a realistic timeline at your consultation and track progress against it.
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Can I combine acupuncture with chiropractic or physical therapy? Yes — they complement each other well, and I frequently coordinate with other providers. Acupuncture can reduce muscle guarding and pain, often making your other therapies more effective.
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Do you treat work injuries? Yes. Work-related neck, back, and shoulder injuries are a regular part of my practice, and I'm experienced in communicating clearly with case managers and referring providers.
Book Your Consultation
If pain is limiting your work, sleep, or life in Santa Cruz, let's change that.
