Originally from China, where it has been practiced for thousands of years, acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine, thin needles through the skin at specific points and at varying depths along the body. The Chinese believe that an energy, which they call “qi” – meaning life force, flows throughout our bodies in channels known as meridians. If this life force does not flow freely it can result in illness, discomfort and pain.
Western medicine however also has clear clinical evidence to how acupuncture works and it has been prescribed now in the NHS for over 20 years. Acupuncture can reduce pain by stimulating the brain and spinal cord to release pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins and cytokines which stimulate the bodies own healing processes. Acupuncture is therefore often used in combination with other treatment techniques to reduce pain levels and ensure a quicker recovery.
At Abbey View Physiotherapy we offer acupuncture to treat a variety of pain related issues and other conditions that may not have responded to conventional treatment in the past. We are Physiotherapists with AACP (Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists) accreditation and as such are trained to use acupuncture for pain reduction through stimulation of the bodies own natural analgesics: endorphines, melatonin and serotonin. We can also use trigger-point acupuncture to facilitate relaxation amongst tense muscle groups which have been subjected to trauma or long term unresolved pain and to help return good blood flow to these strained muscle areas.
Some of the conditions we can help with are as follows: Headaches, Migraines, Discomfort, Referred Pain, Back Pain, amongst other pains . If you think acupuncture may be an option for you please call us to book an initial consultation. We look forward to seeing you and to help get you on the road to being pain free.