Acupuncture comes from Eastern Medicine, where the body is seen as a complex pattern of energy lines and energy centres. The use of Acupuncture, following Eastern theory, is considered to unblock areas where excess energy has collected and flow into areas where it is lacking. This is a very basic description of a complex theory that takes decades to learn, so apologies to reades with an advanced understanding of energy based medicine.
The Western medicine theory behind acupuncture is that it has a positive effect on the nocioceptive (i.e. pain) pathways as they feed back to the brain along with the release of endorphins and an improvement in local circulation. To expand on this would mean going into the physiology of pain which is too complex to discuss here – please ask your Physiotherapist or Osteopath next time you see them.
The term dry needling can vary in its definition depending on the practitioner and is very similar to acupuncture. However, dry needling is often more localized to a particular muscle. Physiotherapists and Osteopaths are often trained in both types, so you will probably have a combination of both. Acupuncture gets glowing reports from patients with its impressive effects on pain (like sciatica) and tendon problems.
“Three months ago I had a prolapsed disk in my neck. The pain was so acute that the doctor had put me on Tramadol. After only two sessions with Lucy Macdonald, who treated me with acupuncture and massage, I was able to quit this morphine based medication. I was left with numbness down the left side of my right hand and continued treatment. Not only did this dramatically improve, but the feeling in the right side of that hand, rendered absolutely numb for 54 years, came back. This has astonished everyone, even a consultant. I was completely unable to feel even a severe burn and now my whole hand is normal.” Anne Nightingale
Acupuncture is used at Octopus Clinic with a combination of other treatments. It is often used to reduce pain levels so that the underlying mechanical cause of the problem can then be addressed with movement re-education exercises and hands on techniques.
FAQ
What is the difference between acupuncture and dry needling?
Both use fine needles, but they are based on different reasoning. Traditional acupuncture places needles at defined points along meridians. Dry needling places them directly into a tight or tender band of muscle, a trigger point, to reduce its tone. Physiotherapists in the UK most commonly use dry needling within a wider treatment plan.
Does dry needling hurt?
The needle insertion itself is usually barely felt. What people notice is a brief cramping or twitching sensation when the needle reaches a trigger point, which typically lasts a second or two and is a sign the right spot has been found. Mild soreness in the area for a day afterwards is normal.
What conditions does acupuncture or dry needling help?
It is most often used for persistent muscle tension and trigger points contributing to neck pain, headaches, shoulder and back pain, and for muscle tightness limiting movement after a sports injury. It is used as one component of a treatment plan alongside hands-on therapy and exercise, rather than as a standalone treatment.
How many acupuncture sessions will I need?
Needling is usually delivered within a normal treatment appointment rather than as a separate course, so the number matches your overall treatment plan. Where it is helping, most people notice a change within two or three sessions. If there is no response by then, it is generally not the right tool for that problem.
How much does acupuncture cost at Octopus Clinic?
The prices page lists no separate acupuncture line, yet "acupuncture prices" is an active query the site ranks for at position 6. Publishing the answer either way would capture it.
Who should not have dry needling or acupuncture?
Needling is avoided or modified during pregnancy in certain areas, over an area of active infection or broken skin, in people with a bleeding disorder or taking anticoagulant medication, over an implanted device, and where there is a needle phobia or a history of fainting. Your practitioner screens for these before treating.
Can I exercise after dry needling?
Light activity is fine and usually helpful. Avoid a heavy session on the treated muscle for around 24 hours, since the area can be tender and mildly weakened immediately afterwards. Drinking normally and moving the area gently through its range tends to reduce post-needling soreness.