Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes, but also Elbow Pain Relief With Acupuncture and Dry Needling in Idaho

Elbow and shoulder pain are some of the most common complaints and injuries seen in athletes and active adults — and also some of the most frustrating to heal. This is in part due to the vulnerable nature of the joints and the mobility of the shoulder joint that is quite unique in our bodies having the greatest range of motion.  Whether this pain or injury is caused by repetitive movements, overtraining, or an injury, conditions including tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, rotator cuff injuries, and shoulder impingement can limit athletic performance, impede daily function and make basic tasks very painful. The minor motions we take for granted every day like pulling up our pants, or washing our hands after using the bathroom, can become very difficult to complete. 

At Eagle Acupuncture in Eagle, Idaho, a suburb outside of Boise, Idaho, patients find complete and lasting relief through a powerful combination of traditional acupuncture and modern dry needling, expertly provided by Tony Burris, L.Ac., MSTOM, a leader in sports injury and orthopedic acupuncture care with the proper, advanced training needed to keep patients safe. He has over 4,000 hours of training in TCM, martial arts, acupuncture, dry needling or orthopedic deep acupuncture needling and Traditional herbal medicine with topical applications for healing. Most providers who learned dry needling in Idaho have only 27 hours of training, no board exam and no license in acupuncture.  

Why Shoulder and Elbow Injuries Are So Notoriously Hard to Heal

Our shoulders and elbows are complex joints with limited blood supply, and more rotation than other joints that are constantly in use, making them prone to:

  • Chronic inflammation

  • Tendon degeneration

  • Scar tissue buildup

  • Nerve irritation

  • Compensatory muscle dysfunction

  • Vulnerable to Overuse or injury

Standard treatments including lack of use, rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone injections, or even surgery often fail to address the root cause of pain :  dysfunctional or weak muscles, impaired blood circulation, and poor neuromuscular signaling.

This is where acupuncture and even dry needling, when performed safely, will excel.

Acupuncture for Elbow & Shoulder Pain

Acupuncture is a time-tested, evidence-based therapy that stimulates the body’s natural healing response. By time-tested we mean, thousands of years on billions of people with studies to back their efficacy.  For elbow and shoulder injuries, acupuncture is the go-to first choice for healing because it:

  • Improves blood flow to damaged tendons and muscles

  • Reduces inflammation

  • Relieves nerve compression

  • Alleviates serious pain

  • Restores proper joint mobility

  • Accelerates tissue repair

  • Rapidly repairs injury

Conditions commonly treated include but are not limited to:

  • Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

  • Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)

  • Pickleball elbow- yes it's the same thing but a new sport so a new name

  • Rotator cuff tendonitis

  • Rotator cuff tears

  • Bursitis in the shoulder 

  • Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

  • Shoulder impingement syndrome

  • Carpal tunnel in the wrist

Dry Needling: A Powerful Complement to Acupuncture

At Eagle Acupuncture, Tony Burris, L.Ac. also offers dry needling, a highly targeted technique used to release deep muscular trigger points and dysfunctional tissue. With 1,800 hours in needling training alone (most dry needlers only have 27 hours of training), he is the master needler for pain, injury,  and inflammation. If you prefer a female provider, his wife, Dr. Kristen Burris, DAcCHM also treats pain and injury in their practice. 

Dry needling is especially effective for:

  • Chronic elbow pain

  • Rotator cuff dysfunction

  • Overuse injuries

  • Muscle knots and adhesions

  • Reduced range of motion

By inserting fine needles directly into trigger points, dry needling:

  • Resets dysfunctional muscle firing

  • Breaks up scar tissue

  • Improves neuromuscular control

  • Reduces pain faster in stubborn cases

When combined with traditional acupuncture, dry needling creates a comprehensive treatment approach that addresses both local tissue injury and whole-body healing. Please be advised: dry needling hurts far more than acupuncture, so be sure to be aware that if you are sensitive or prone to pain, you may ask for ortho-sport acupuncture over dry needling. We can offer gentle-pain-free treatments with acupuncture or more invasive, often painful dry-needling techniques. The choice is always yours. When our providers reset your muscle motor points the twitch can be alarming to some patients. Please advise your acupuncturist on your preference: pain-free treatment or more aggressive treatment: one enormous advantage of seeking the expertise of our acupuncturists at Eagle Acupuncture located between Boise,  Meridian, and Nampa, Idaho. 

Meet the Expert: Tony Burris, L.Ac., MSTOM

Tony Burris, Licensed Acupuncturist, is widely recognized for his expertise in sports injuries, orthopedic acupuncture, and pain management.

What sets Mr. Burris apart from other providers:

  • Advanced training in Traditional Oriental Medicine 

  • Education in Western musculoskeletal assessment

  • Extensive experience treating elite and competitive athletes, including professional, collegiate, and Olympic-level athletes

  • Decades treating firemen, police and military men and women for their injuries

  • Specialized focus on shoulder and elbow injuries related to throwing, lifting, racquet sports, pickleball, tennis, CrossFit, golf, horseback riding, bull riding, strong woman and man exercises, and repetitive strain

  • Skilled integration of acupuncture, dry needling, electro-acupuncture, and manual therapy with over 24 years experience in private practice

  • Externship at RIMAC UCSD with collegiate athletes

  • Mr. Burris has treated professional athletes that rely on their bodies for million dollar contracts including pro athletes from the NFL Lion, Bears, Redskins, and Chargers. NY Marathon winner, Strong Woman of Idaho winner, Collegiate Baseball players, Olympic Athletes, and Bull Riding Champions. 

Tony’s background working with athletes gives him a deep understanding of biomechanics, recovery timelines, and performance demands — allowing him to tailor treatments for both rapid pain relief and long-term injury prevention.

Why Athletes (And Weekend Warriors) Choose Eagle Acupuncture

Athletes and active individuals choose Eagle Acupuncture because treatment goes well beyond symptom management and actually heals the injury and resolves the pain. Being a collegiate champion and avid weightlifter himself, Mr. Burris understands the drive, the passion and the demands athletes often put on their bodies. Older patients are vulnerable to pain and injury and trust his expertise and gentle approach (and they love his bedside manner and stories too). 

Patients often experience:

  •  Faster recovery times

  •  Reduced reliance on medications or injections

  •  Improved range of motion

  •  Long-lasting pain relief

  •  Better performance and resilience

Whether you’re a competitive athlete, weekend warrior, or someone dealing with persistent elbow or shoulder pain, Mr. Tony Burris’s integrative approach helps restore function — not just mask pain.

Natural, Effective Relief for Elbow & Shoulder Pain in Idaho

If elbow or shoulder pain is limiting your training, work, or daily life, you don’t have to accept it as “normal.” Acupuncture and dry needling at Eagle Acupuncture offer a safe, effective, drug-free solution that treats the root cause of injury.

Eagle Acupuncture – Eagle, Idaho

Tony Burris, L.Ac., MSTOM

Sports Injury | Orthopedic Acupuncture | Dry Needling

Schedule your consultation today and get back to pain-free movement.

Colin Eggleston