Acupuncture
Most of our Therapists are qualified in conventional & trigger point acupuncture and are registered with the AACP.
Acupuncture has been used in China for over 3,000 years. Physiotherapists in the U.K practice non-traditional and trigger point methods.
The treatment originates from the traditional Chinese belief that energy flows throughout the body via channels. Traditional acupuncture believes inserting needles at specific points will restore the flow of energy whenever a problem has caused a blockage. Western acupuncture will use the same points but is largely used for pain relief and muscle relaxation. It is usually used as an adjunct to physiotherapy or sports massage.
Acupuncture reduces your pain and inflammation but does not treat the cause of the problem. Therefore, it is used as part of an integrated approach rather than a stand alone practice. Acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system to produce more pain-relieving endorphins, including melatonin and serotonin. Endorphins assist the body’s healing process and produce pain relief due to their anti-inflammatory properties. This effect is then used as a precursor to other treatments. Our other treatments will include manual therapy and exercise therapy to aid recovery.
Conventional
Conventional acupuncture uses single-use, sterilised needles that pierce the skin at specific points. Firstly, your Physiotherapist determines the locations of these specific points through an assessment; then inserts two to ten needles during treatment. Needles are left in position for 20 - 30 minutes before removal and disposal. Experiencing a tingling or dull ache is called deqi. Several clients report feeling sleepy afterwards and slight discomfort, however this is rare and should settle within a few hours.
Trigger point
Trigger point acupuncture, similarly to conventional, relaxes muscles. This treatment is particularly helpful when muscles are painful. Specific trauma, posture or occupation will increase muscle tension and pain. The muscle tissue is restored to full length and elasticity quickly and easily. Your Physiotherapist will insert the needle/s into the affected muscle until the tissue relaxes. The needle is then removed. Trigger point needling often produces an effect much more quickly than conventional acupuncture. Therefore, this treatment does not require the 20–30 minute treatment time. This type of acupuncture is always used as part of a long treatment, such as sports massage or a physiotherapy assessment.
Please contact us or visit www.aacp.org.uk for more information about acupuncture and what it can be used for.
Learn more about Physiotherapy here
Learn about Managing Back Pain here