Many factors influence the rate and extent to which a condition will improve with a course of acupuncture treatments. The main consideration is the duration which one has had the condition. A recent injury or medical condition will improve relatively quickly as compared to one that has become chronic and lingering over several years.
Other factors that influence the rate of improvement include:
- the presence of any other medical conditions
- lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and sleep
- family history
- complications due to prescription medication
In general, one should expect to see some improvement within 4-6 treatments, and in some cases, immediately after the first treatment. In many cases a modest rate of improvement in the range of 5-10% with each treatment is a more realistic expectation.
The rate and extent of improvement can be difficult to predict as a person may see no improvement after several treatments, but then experience a sudden dramatic improvement even several months into the treatment course.