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What exactly is Structural Reduction Therapy?
Why is it so effective?

Many patients have suffered from chronic pain in areas like the shoulder, neck, and lower back for years. They’ve tried various treatments—Western medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, massage—but with limited results.

However, after just a few sessions of Structural Reduction Therapy (SRT), they’ve experienced significant improvement.

This is because many of these so-called 'untreatable' pains are actually caused by adhesions between tissues, also known as 'structural errors.'

The core of SRT is a unique palpation technique that accurately identifies both the location and the shape of adhesions in the body. This allows for precise release of these adhesions, which often leads to rapid and substantial symptom relief.

These adhesions exist objectively and can be identified by any doctor skilled in SRT. Moreover, these adhesions can be visually confirmed under an endoscope. For example, in common conditions like frozen shoulder, the adhesions we detect through palpation can be verified as real using arthroscopy.

SRT diagnosis can even detect issues that a standard MRI may miss. But this isn’t magic—it’s just physics. MRI is currently the most advanced medical imaging technology, but being advanced means it’s expensive. To maximize cost-efficiency, standard MRIs are performed with the patient lying still, capturing only static images.

However, many adhesions are only observable during movement, which is why standard MRIs often fail to detect them. This explains why many patients experience significant pain, yet their MRI results appear normal, with no clear cause identified.

During your first visit, we will guide you to feel the various adhesion points in your body and let you experience the remarkable improvement after these adhesions are released.

A groundbreaking palpation technique that precisely locates adhesions in the body.

Why is SRT so powerful, yet so few doctors seem to practice it?

SRT is a completely new treatment method developed by Taiwan’s renowned physician, Dr. Lion Chuan Lin. Based on family teachings and years of study under multiple masters, Dr. Lin distilled his clinical experience into an innovative therapeutic system.

(Dr. Lion Chuan Lin’s Facebook)

Dr. Lin only began teaching outside Taiwan around 2016–2017. The pandemic then further disrupted these efforts, so naturally, only a small number of students abroad have had the opportunity to study it.

Moreover, the core of SRT lies in precise palpation—identifying structural issues in the body through hands-on assessment rather than written theory or a fixed set of procedures. This high learning curve naturally limits the number of practitioners who are able to truly master it.

It's like learning to become a surgeon: memorizing anatomy and surgical textbooks doesn't mean one can perform surgery. They must first observe, assist in operations, hone basic surgical skills (like suturing and excision), and then perform simple surgeries under the supervision of senior doctors. Only through such step-by-step development can they become qualified surgeons.

A powerful therapy is naturally hard to learn. Because it’s hard, few are willing to commit to it. And among those few, even fewer truly master it. That’s why you rarely see doctors who specialize in SRT.

SRT has a short teaching history outside of Taiwan and is notoriously difficult to learn.

Who is the doctor?

I graduated and obtained my California acupuncture license in 2014. In 2017, I began studying SRT under Dr. Lin, and since then, I’ve focused exclusively on SRT. To date, I’ve been in practice for 11 years, and have specialized in SRT for 8 of those years.

I chose to specialize in SRT because I value honesty and authenticity. Diagnosis and treatment should be based on objective findings. I don’t like making things up, and I have no interest in being a “smooth-talking” doctor.

Since graduating, I’ve studied under many teachers. Among them, only Dr. Lin was able to achieve what I’d call “no questioning, just palpation, then accurately predicting the pain site.” In other words, only SRT actually sees what’s going on in the patient’s body.

For example, I recently treated an eight-year-old boy who experienced pain in both heels when he started to run (pain level 2–3 out of 10).

His parents had taken him for all kinds of tests, including an MRI, but no cause was found. With no answers from Western medicine, they turned to a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor, who diagnosed him with “kidney-yin deficiency foot pain.” He took Chinese herbs and received acupuncture, but saw no improvement. I’m sure many people have had similar experiences.

When I examined him, I found that the ligaments and tendons between his calcaneus (heel bone) and talus were stuck together due to adhesions. I gave one needle per foot, had him get off the treatment table and run—his pain improved significantly right away. I gave one more needle on each foot, had him run again—and this time, the pain was basically gone.

About two weeks later, I followed up with his parents (screenshot below). They reported that his pain while running had dropped to 0.3 out of 10 (from the original 2–3). In total, I had only used four needles.

So I’m deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to study with Dr. Lin and learn SRT. Thanks to that, I no longer have to make up vague diagnoses like “liver fire,” “kidney deficiency,” or “spleen deficiency.” Sure, those conditions do exist—but we shouldn’t force-fit them onto every case.

Hello, I’m Dr. Derrick Yang.

How many sessions does SRT take to fix me? Answering common questions

(Click to see the answer)

1. How much does SRT cost?

2. How many sessions does SRT take to fix my problem?

3. I'm afraid of needles—can I still receive SRT?

4. What should I prepare for my first visit? What will happen?

5. After adhesions are released, will they re-form?

6. What should I do after the treatment?

7. What if SRT doesn’t work for me?

Flat rate for all treatments
50% off for first-time visits

First visit: $50
(during regular clinic hours)

Follow-up visits: $100

No matter how many issues we addressed, what treatment methods are used, or how many needles are applied—the cost per session is always the same.

The first-visit discount only applies to first visits during regular clinic hours.

While we can provide you with a detailed receipt for HSA or insurance reimbursement, we don’t bill insurance directly. We find that handling complex insurance policies will divert our attention away from what matters most—your care and recovery—so we keep our focus entirely on you.

How many sessions does SRT take to fix my problem?

Most patients feel improvement after just the first session!

The total number of sessions depends on how quickly your symptoms improve.

We typically start with once-a-week treatments. Once your symptoms stop appearing for a full week, we move to once every two weeks, then every three weeks, and so on. If ongoing maintenance is needed, most patients come in every 4 to 8 weeks.

In many cases, regular follow-ups aren’t necessary. For example, if you hurt yourself by bending over to lift something, once the pain is treated, we’ll teach you to squat instead of bend—helping prevent reinjury and eliminating the need for long-term care.

We also do our best to help you identify the root cause of recurring pain, so you won’t need routine visits.

One of my IT patients, for instance, had recurring neck pain. After some discussion, we identified likely causes: frequent head-turning to look at a second monitor, and unconsciously craning his head forward toward the screen. Once he adjusted those habits, the neck pain became much less frequent.

Another example is an elderly man with recurring pain on the outer side of his thigh. The culprit turned out to be his dining chair—a tall barstool. After switching to a proper chair, his thigh pain rarely came back.

Of course, if we truly can’t find the root cause, then long-term care might be necessary. Common situations include:

1. Chronic pain lasting over 10 years
2. Low back pain with body weight over 250 lbs
3. Ongoing moderate or high intensity exercise
4. Prolonged desk work and computer use
5. Persistent pain with no clear cause

For instance, I had a patient with 10 years of chronic low back pain. After four sessions, the pain stayed away for a week, so we moved to biweekly treatments, then once every three weeks, and then every four.

However, due to her job and weight—she weighs nearly 300 pounds and has to sit beside patients without back support—the chair can’t be changed because she works in a clinical setting. In her case, the pain can’t be fully resolved, so long-term care is needed. She now comes in monthly, remains pain-free between visits, and prefers not to extend the interval.

SRT employs a variety of treatment methods beyond needling to release adhesions, including manual techniques, scraping, brushing, tapping, massage, and more.

That said, needling is still the most direct way to break up adhesions.

Unlike traditional acupuncture, which often emphasizes speed and force, our needling approach is intentionally slower and gentler. We aim to keep any discomfort in the mild to moderate range—well within what most people can tolerate.

Needle sensation varies from person to person, but a common reaction is a deep sense of “release” or a satisfying soreness, often described as “ah, finally, it loosened up.”

We’ll usually begin with just one or two needles. Most people who are initially nervous find it surprisingly manageable—even the 8-year-old boy with heel pain from running said, “Actually, it’s not bad.”

And if you truly can’t tolerate needling, don’t worry—we have plenty of other effective tools to work with.

I’m afraid of needles—can I still receive SRT?

Each session lasts about 50 minutes.

Please eat a little something beforehand—getting needled on an empty stomach may sometimes make you feel faint. (Lunch is fine for an afternoon appointment.)

Wear loose-fitting short sleeves and shorts to the appointment. If the weather is cold, wear layers that can be easily removed indoors. Please avoid jeans or skirts.

If you need a receipt (for HSA or insurance reimbursement), let the doctor know.

If you have imaging results such as an MRI or X-rays, please prepare photos of both the images and the written reports on your phone, or send them to the doctor the day before. We are not able to read data from CDs or DVDs during your visit.

Monday to Friday: After arrival, take the main staircase to the second floor. Suite 250 is right next to the stairs—check in at the front desk for Dr. Yang.

Saturday: The front desk is closed. When you arrive, go up to the second floor, find Suite 250, enter, turn right, and look for Room 16.

An elevator is available next to the main staircase, but it occasionally goes out of service. To confirm if it’s working on the day of your visit, please text 949-233-9597 in advance.

What should I prepare for my first visit?

What will happen during my first visit?

First, we’ll ask about the issue you’d like to address, along with its various characteristics—for example: Where does it hurt? How painful is it? What makes it worse or better? How long has it been going on? What treatments have you tried? And so on.

Next, we’ll perform a full structural assessment.

After the exam, we’ll guide you to physically feel where adhesions exist in your body and help you understand which ones may be causing your current symptoms.

Then, within your comfort level, we’ll discuss a treatment plan—usually starting with one or two test needles to see if you’re comfortable with them.

Following that, we’ll proceed with treatment. It’s done in stages: after each stage, we’ll have you get up and check whether your symptoms have improved. Most of the time, there’s noticeable improvement.

Finally, we’ll provide detailed guidance on post-treatment care, including:

1. What you may feel after treatment and how to manage it

2. Things you can do on your own to speed up recovery

3. Possible directions to explore for identifying the root cause of your pain

4. A follow-up treatment plan tailored to your situation

If you mobilize the area after treatment, they won’t.

Adhesions are real, physical restrictions between tissues. Releasing them with a needle creates a tiny wound, and like any wound, there is a chance it may re-stick to a degree.

However, because the needle is so thin, the wound is extremely small—often invisible on the skin. Thus, if you keep the area moving through its full, natural range—without forcing a stretch—it greatly reduces the degree of re-adhesion.

Once the tiny wound has healed, the adhesion won’t just randomly worsen for no reason. If symptoms return, there must be an underlying cause, which we need to identify.

For more information, see the next section: “What should I do after treatment?”

Will adhesions re-form after being released?

When we move, our muscles contract and rub against each other. Over time, repeated friction between adjacent muscles can cause micro-injuries and inflammation. For example, someone who walks 8,000 steps a day causes the related muscles to rub against each other at least 8,000 times.

If the area isn’t moved during the healing phase, the tissues may heal together, forming adhesions. In other words, moving your muscles through their full range is the best way to prevent adhesions from forming.

That’s why it’s important to mobilize not only before exercise, but also after.

For the same reason, mobility training is essential after treatment as well.

Some might ask, “If I don’t exercise, does that mean I can avoid adhesions?” Technically, yes—but in that case, your muscles will atrophy. And since muscle mass is a key indicator of overall health, avoiding movement isn’t a good solution.

The best approach is this:
“If you’re not in pain, you should be exercising—and doing mobility workout every day, especially before and after workouts."

Why do adhesions form in the first place?

Soreness at the treatment site typically lasts 1 to 3 days, though it may last as little as half a day—or up to 5 or even 7 days. All of this is normal.

During this time, you might experience new sensations, such as sudden twitching in the treated area or brief pain in spots that hadn’t hurt before. These are normal signs that your body is rebalancing structural tension. They usually fade as the soreness resolves.

If the soreness lasts longer than you can comfortably tolerate, please contact your doctor.

What should I do after the treatment?

Soreness at the Treatment Area

Feeling Tired After Treatment

It’s common to feel tired after treatment—similar to post-exercise fatigue or soreness. This is a sign that your parasympathetic nervous system is activating and your body is beginning the repair process.

Take this opportunity to rest early, as doing so can enhance the treatment’s effects and potentially shorten your recovery time.

A Mildly Tight Area Feels More Tight or Painful After Treatment

Occasionally, an area that previously felt just mildly tight may become more painful after treatment. This happens because the nervous system has limited bandwidth and focuses on the area with the greatest tension. Once the main issue improves, your body starts to register other, secondary issues.

This indicates that additional areas may require treatment. If this happens, please schedule your next session soon.

Can I Apply Heat After Treatment?

Unless your doctor advises otherwise, use only gentle heat therapy at most until the treatment soreness resolves. For example, you can use a heating pad on low for 10 minutes or run warm water over the area for an extra 5 minutes in the shower.

Excessive heat may cause inflammation, which can prolong healing.

Avoid Straining the Treated Area

Do not exert any unnecessary force through the treated area for 72 hours following treatment.

Light activities such as walking, grocery shopping, or taking a short 10-minute stroll are fine.

However, please avoid strenuous activities such as lifting weights, moving furniture, carrying luggage, long walks, power walking, running, or playing sports, as these may aggravate your condition.

If you’re thinking about starting a new workout program, please discuss it with your doctor first.

If you are currently doing physical therapy exercises or stretches, consult your doctor to determine whether you should pause them. In many cases, these have caused symptoms to worsen.

Avoid Strain—But Stay Mobilized

For the first week after treatment, do mobility exercises at least twice a day. This helps prevent re-adhesion and can accelerate your recovery.

If Symptoms Keep Coming Back

If your symptoms improve for a few days but then return, it likely means that something in your daily life is causing the problem. Please work with your doctor to help identify the culprit.

Common triggers include an unsuitable chair, a desk that’s too low, a monitor placed off to the side, or maintaining poor posture for long periods.

In rare cases, persistent pain may indicate a more serious issue, such as a tumor. If your symptoms continue to return, getting an X-ray or MRI is strongly recommended.

We understand that trying a new treatment can spark concerns, and we’re here to put you at ease with this commitment:

The body’s complex structural issues can make it challenging to pinpoint the root cause in one session. That’s why we recommend at least three treatments, allowing us time to identify and address the core problem effectively.

If you don’t notice any improvement after completing three sessions, we’ll refund the full cost of those sessions. No risk to you—just three chances for us to help.

If we determine that your symptoms aren’t primarily structural in nature, we’ll be honest with you and guide you toward the right type of specialist.

And at any point—whether it’s after one session or several—if you feel the treatment isn’t worth your time or money, just let us know. We’ll issue a refund within reasonable limits.

Because we believe truly exceptional care isn’t just about results—it’s about making you feel respected, supported, and heard.

What if SRT doesn’t work for me?

Address & Hours

Address

4000 Barranca Pkwy Ste 250 Room 16

Irvine, CA 92604

Hours

Tuesday 9am - 6:30pm

Friday 9am - 6:30pm

Saturday 9am - 6:30pm