Medical Acupuncture
Medical?
There are actually multiple forms of acupuncture techniques used by predominantly manual therapists such as Osteopaths and Physiotherapists, traditional Acupuncturists and doctors.
Manual therapists and doctors commonly practice what is known as ‘medical acupuncture’ as this tends to be a treatment directed at musculoskeletal problems such as muscular tension and trigger points.
Traditional ‘Chinese Acupuncture’ uses meridian charts, which are channels of the body believed to become imbalanced and causing painful ailments, infertility, addiction and so on. The needles usually just sit on the outer layer of the skin, rather than directly into muscular and joint tissue.
Contraindications
As this is a treatment modality that breaks the surface of the skin there are safety precautions that we must take, if any of the following applies it is unlikely that this therapy is right for you. If you are still unsure please speak to a member of our team by giving us a call directly or by visiting the clinic.
Taking anti-coagulants/blood thinning medication
Pregnant
Have reacted badly to an injection or acupuncture needle before i.e. fainting
Hemophiliac
If you are still unsure please speak to a member of our team by giving us a call directly or by visiting the clinic. Usually, you can still give blood after this therapy by providing the practitioner’s registration number and details however we advise you speak with them before giving blood to confirm.
Can it help?
When used correctly for specific muscular related issues, medical acupuncture can be highly effective. Our dry needling practitioners have already completed a Master’s degree in Osteopathy before training for this treatment technique, so they have exceptional diagnosis skills and therefore use this therapy when it would be most suited and effective.
Trigger Point Acupuncture
This is a specialist method also referred to as ‘intramuscular stimulation’ used which requires additional training, whereby specific trigger points that can cause referred pain patterns are identified. A needle by needle approach rather than multiple needles in one site. Our practitioners find it highly effective when treating chronic muscular conditions that seem resistant to other treatment methods. Practitioners have also seen great value in this technique when managing degenerative arthritic joints that have their own associated trigger points in the surrounding musculature.
If this is something you are interested in please let reception know when booking to ensure you are booked with the right practitioner depending on the technique that you require.