Acupuncture in Physiotherapy

Background

The use of acupuncture can be traced back three thousand years and is still used within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a treatment technique for a huge variety of ailments.

However, recent research within Modern Western Medicine has shown the effectiveness of acupuncture, particularly in the treatment and management of back pain, neck pain and knee osteoarthritis. This was recently highlighted in the media following new guidelines on the early treatment of non-specific lower back pain from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE now recommend acupuncture as one of the physiotherapy treatment options that should be made available to patients suffering from persistent lower back pain.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely fine, sterile, single use needles at specific points of the body. Usually between 2 and 6 needles are applied, but sometimes more depending on the condition. Once in place, the physiotherapist may gentle stimulate the needles until a mild ache, numbness or tingling sensation is felt (referred to as De Qi – pronounced day-chee), which is an indication that the body’s inbuilt pain relieving mechanisms are being stimulated into action.

In some situations, the physiotherapist may attach electrodes to the needles to assist in the stimulation of Di Qi. Low frequency impulses can help to reduce chronic (longstanding) pain, whilst higher frequency impulses can be helpful in more acute (severe) problems.

How does Acupuncture Work?

The insertion and stimulation of needles at specific trigger points, tricks the body into releasing its own pain relieving chemicals, such as endorphins and enkephalins. The needling does not need to be performed close to the area of pain and can still be effective at reducing pain. This can be particularly useful if the painful area is too sensitive for localised treatment.

Is Acupuncture Effective?

Yes. However, the degree to which pain is alleviated can be dependent on a number of factors, such as general health, the severity of the condition, how longstanding the condition and how your body reacts to treatment – some patients can have a stronger reaction to acupuncture and thereby obtain more significant relief than others.

Is Acupuncture Appropriate for Everyone?

Acupuncture may be suggested to you if your physiotherapist believes that it may help improve your condition. However, the idea of acupuncture is not for everyone and there would never be any pressure from the physio to use acupuncture if you were in any way uncomfortable with it.

There are also certain groups of people who would not be appropriate for acupuncture, such as haemophiliacs, diabetics, patients with pace makers etc. In all cases the physiotherapist will stringently assess your suitability before offering acupuncture.