Acupuncture is just one of the specialist skills offered by the Physiotherapists at Bodybalance Physiotherapy clinic.

What is Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient healing art developed over the past 4000 years in China. It works on the body’s vital energy which flows in channels below the skin. By inserting fine needles into specific acupuncture points within these channels, the body’s healing response can be stimulated to restore it to its natural state of balance.

Acupuncture has been proven to stimulate the brain to produce natural pain relieving chemicals called endorphins. It is these endorphins that offer pain relief.

Chinese philosophy is that health is dependent on the body’s life energy Qi, moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of meridans beneath the skin. Qi consists of equal and opposite qualities – Yin +Yang and when imbalances occur, illnesses result. It is believed that the needles provide an entry and exit point for the Qi energy to either leave the body or enter the body thus restoring the balance.

Acupuncture treats the whole person, rather than the symptoms in isolation, working to improve overall wellbeing through helping to recover equilibrium between mind, body and spirit.

What Does It Feel Like?
Due to the fineness of the needles acupuncture bears little resemblance to the feeling of injections or blood tests. When the needle is inserted a slight prick is felt. A tingling or heaviness sensation is often experienced once an acupuncture point has been located.

The needles are in place for about 30minutes and during this time they are stimulated and often a pleasant relaxation is felt.

What Conditions Can Acupuncture Help?
Acupuncture stimulates the body’s self healing mechanism and can reduce pain; therefore it is effective for a variety of conditions.
- Neck and arm pain
- Back pain and sciatica
- Whiplash
- Joint and muscle pain + spasm
- Acute soft tissue injuries
- Headaches and migraines
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Arthritic joint pain

What Does Treatment Involve?
At the initial consultation you will be assessed with the Physiotherapist taking a full medical history and establishing the underlying problem. The Physiotherapist will then be able to discuss treatment options available to you. If acupuncture is your chosen method of treatment the Physiotherapist will ensure that there are no medical contraindications.

A typical course of acupuncture will involve the insertion of multiple needles into the body. The needles usually remain in situ for about 30 minutes, unless you are having trigger point acupuncture which may only involve a few needles inserted one at a time for duration of a few minutes.

It may take up to 6 sessions for you to improve with acupuncture, however longstanding conditions may take longer to improve.

Safety & Standards of Practice
Our Physiotherapists are members of the Association of Acupuncture Chartered Physiotherapists (www.aacp.uk.com). This professional group ensures that Physiotherapists adhere to strict hygiene and treatment guidelines and mandates that the Physiotherapists have to undertake regular training and updates to remain on the membership register.

At Bodybalance Physiotherapy clinic all the needles used are strictly single use only, disposable and come in pre-sterile packs.

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