Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture can be traced back as far as 1000BC. It was developed out of a concept of using needles inserted into the body as a means of balancing the movement and levels of “Qi” (energy life force) within the body, with an imbalance of Qi leading to disease, pain or disability. Recent research is now supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture, particularly in the management of pain, suggesting that it is effective for a number of problems such as the treatment of low back pain, neck pain and knee osteoarthritis.

Acupuncture involves the Physiotherapist inserting very fine, sterile, single use needles quickly through the skin and into the tissues. The needling itself should not be painful, at most a light scratch or pinprick sensation followed by a mild ache referred to as “De Qi”, a sign that the body’s inbuilt pain relieving mechanisms are being stimulated.

At Therapeutics, acupuncture may be offered to you as part of your rehabilitation and pain management programme. Often Physiotherapists use acupuncture alongside treatments such as exercise and joint mobilisation, viewing it as a complementary rather than an alternative therapy. Acupuncture will be suggested to you following an initial assessment, when the Physiotherapist believes that it may help to improve the effectiveness of your overall treatment.