Acupuncture

Acupuncture may be offered as part of your physiotherapy treatment and is a safe and reliable therapeutic modality.

Along with manual therapy and exercise it has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for managing persistent or recurrent low back and neck pain. Research into the effect of acupuncture in musculoskeletal pain, has demonstrated how it can stimulate the body’s own pain killers (opiates) and lead to short or long term pain relief.

Originally part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the concept of the treatment  is based on the flow of energy (Qi) circulating along a network of channels (meridians) connecting the body’s surface to internal organs. According to TCM, changes to energy flow can lead to pain, disease and disability. The purpose of treatment is to re-establish equilibrium.

Western medical acupuncture (WMA) has evolved from TCM, and is based on anatomy, physiology, and pathology with which modern health professionals are familiar.

All physiotherapists using acupuncture are required to train to a recognised minimum standard and fulfil mandatory training hours. Some of our physiotherapists have studied acupuncture to MSc level and have a greater knowledge of Traditional Chinese medicine. Patients have reported additional benefits such as mood change, improved sleep patterns and feelings of well being.

This is provided as general information only and is not intended to be relied upon as medical advice.