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Medical Acupuncture

What is it?

The following excerpt is taken from the Acupuncture and Dry Needling Group of The APA (Australian Society of Acupuncture Physiotherapist) guidelines;

Dry Needling involves needling to altered or dysfunctional tissues in order to improve or restore function. This may include needling of myofascial trigger points, periosteum and other soft tissues.

Western acupuncture utilises meridian points but applies it to ‘western’ reasoning with particular consideration to relevant neurophysiology and anatomy. It does not utilise any traditional Chinese medicine assessment methods or paradigms. Points are stimulated to create local, spinal segmental or supraspinal pain modulating effects.

Simply put, acupuncture involves the insertion of a sterile once-only use fine needle to soft tissue to reduce pain, release tension and improve movement.

How does it work?

The modern scientific explanation is that needling the acupuncture points works in two main ways:

1. Stimulation of the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body's own internal regulating system.
2. Change in length-tension of muscle or other soft tissue to reduce tension.

The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body's natural healing abilities, and in promoting physical and emotional well-being.

What is the Scope of Medical Acupuncture?

Medical acupuncture is a system which can influence three areas of health care:

• promotion of health and well-being,
• prevention of illness,
• treatment of various medical conditions.

While acupuncture is often associated with pain control, in the hands of a well-trained practitioner it has much broader applications. Acupuncture can be effective as the only treatment used, or as the support or adjunct to other medical treatment forms in many medical and surgical disorders. The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a wide range of medical problems, including:

• Digestive disorders: gastritis and hyperacidity, spastic colon, constipation, diarrhoea.
• Respiratory disorders: sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, recurrent chest infections.
• Neurological and muscular disorders: headaches, trigger points, neck pain, rib neuritis, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, various forms of tendinitis, low back pain, sciatica, osteoarthritis.
• Urinary, menstrual, and reproductive problems.

Acupuncture is particularly useful in resolving physical problems related to tension, stress and emotional conditions.

What are the Needles like? Do they hurt?

People experience acupuncture needling differently. Most patients feel only minimal pain as the needles are inserted; some feel no pain at all. Once the needles are in place, there is usually no pain felt. Acupuncture needles are very thin and solid and are made from stainless steel. The point is smooth (not hollow with cutting edges like a hypodermic needle) and insertion through the skin is not as painful as injections or blood sampling. The risk of bruising and skin irritation is less than when using a hollow needle.

Because our trained Physiotherapists only use disposable needles, there is no risk of infection from the treatments.

To find out how acupuncture may assist you, please ask any of our friendly staff!