Joseph Bickle, LAc — Licensed Acupuncturist & Pain Specialist
My Path to Chinese Medicine
My introduction to Chinese medicine came in my early 20s recovering from a sports injury. As a lifelong athlete who had been through conventional rehabilitation, I was genuinely surprised by how effectively acupuncture accelerated my recovery. That experience didn’t just change how I healed — it changed the direction of my life.
15 Years Inside the System
After graduating from Northwestern Health Sciences University in 2009 with my Master’s in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, I spent over a decade working within the Allina Health system — specializing in chronic pain management across multiple clinics, including the United Pain Center until its closure in 2025.
Those years taught me an enormous amount. They also showed me the limits of what segmented care can offer. Patients would see one provider for needling, another for physical therapy, another for pain management — each working in isolation, with no shared treatment plan and no defined endpoint. Herbs were an afterthought. Progress was measured in appointments, not outcomes. For complex chronic pain patients especially, that approach produces short-term relief and long-term frustration. I watched it happen repeatedly.
Why I Opened Performance D.N.A.
I opened Performance D.N.A. in 2026 because I wanted to build something that actually worked the way chronic pain treatment should — one provider, one integrated plan, a clear beginning, middle, and end. Hands-on treatment and herbal medicine to create the foundation. Progressive movement work to build on it. A structure where every phase earns the next one and patients know what they’re working toward.
That’s not a new idea. It’s just rarely executed in one place by one person who understands how all the pieces fit together.
CREDENTIALS
Licenses & Degrees
- Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine — Northwestern Health Sciences University
- Licensed Acupuncturist — Minnesota Medical Board
Specialized Certifications
- Sports Medicine Acupuncture
- Trigger Point Dry Needling
- Zheng Gu Tui Na & Joint Manipulation Techniques
- Active Release Technique
Beyond the Clinic
When I’m not treating patients, I’m spending time with my wife, son, and two very spoiled cats. I stay active through gardening, cycling, Qi Gong, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You’ll often find me by the fire with good music and a quality cup of coffee — if you have a local roastery recommendation in the Richfield or Twin Cities area, I’d genuinely love to hear it.