As a traditional Chinese practice, acupuncture dates back thousands of years – and, in recent decades, it’s been adopted in physiotherapy as another treatment mechanism.
However, while the Chinese ‘Eastern’ approach involves using acupuncture to change or restore energy flow within the body, the ‘Western’ approach employed by physiotherapists focuses on acupuncture from a physiological perspective and as a form of pain relief.
Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points of the body where pain or soreness is present. The needles stimulate nerve sensors in the muscles and skin, triggering the body to release endorphins – natural ‘pain-relieving’ chemicals.
Following a review of scientific evidence, a 2021 report from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care, recommended acupuncture in physiotherapy for short-term treatment of chronic primary pain conditions.
To discuss acupuncture as a potential treatment option, book an appointment with one of our physiotherapists by calling 01892 525065