Acupuncture
What it is and how treatment can help
At Osteopathy Suffolk we offer modern acupuncture, also known as dry needling. Dry needling or medical acupuncture is a modern treatment designed to ease muscular pain. It is slightly different to traditional acupuncture as it is based on a modern understanding of anatomy, physiology, and pathology.
What is dry needling/modern acupuncture?
During dry needling, your practitioner inserts several filiform needles into your skin, in the appropriate treatment area. Practitioners place the needles into your muscle or tissue ‘trigger points’, which creates intramuscular stimulation, focusing on areas of knotted or hard muscle.
What does dry needling help with?
Dry needling helps to release and relieve any knots, muscle pain or spasms. Depending on condition and treatment requirements, your practitioner will leave the needles in from 5 to 20 minutes. For longer treatments, you can simply lie back and relax.
Acupuncture can provide relief from a range of conditions, and can assist with the management of a multitude of symptoms. These include (and are not limited to):
- Back or neck pain
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Headaches and migraines
- Joint problems including arthritis
- Myofascial & muscular pain
- Pelvic pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Shin splints
- Shoulder impingement
- Spinal issues
- Osteoarthritis
- Tendonitis
- ….and many more!
Is acupuncture safe?
The needles used for modern acupuncture treatment arrive in a sterile sealed pack, and once used they are disposed of and not used again. Acupuncture needles are fine, short, stainless steel needles and fluid cannot be injected through them. Practitioners are fully trained and insured to apply acupuncture needles and adopt appropriate techniques.
Is acupuncture painful?
The needles used are comparable to the width of a human hair. Feeling the insertion of the needle generally varies; from going completely unnoticed, to feeling a small pinch of the skin. It does not feel like an injection, or like having blood taken. After needle insertion, some patients experience sensations such as warmth, heaviness, mild pain and tingling in the treatment area. This is normal and if you have any concerns before, during or after treatment, please talk to your practitioner. We are always more than happy to address any queries.
How many treatments will I need?
Different symptoms require a different number of treatment sessions, and based entirely on individual need. Typically, we see most patients for a minimum of two sessions and a maximum of ten sessions but this can vary. Acute conditions treated early usually require a lower number of interventions, whereas chronic conditions will usually require more but we will advise you of our care recommendations at your first appointment.
If you would like to speak to us about your condition and the suitability of acupuncture as a treatment for you, please do call us to discuss your options.
Why choose us?
Friendly and experienced staff
Passionate about delivery of high-quality care and improving health and wellbeing
Registered and fully insured
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