Acupuncture is one of the many skills employed within physiotherapy treatment by our team member, Stewart Kerr, and is part of an integrated approach to the management of pain and inflammation.

Stewart bases his use of Acupuncture on scientific research and clinical evidence that it can reduce pain by stimulating the brain and spinal cord to produce natural pain-relieving chemicals such as endorphins, melatonin (which promotes sleep) and serotonin (to promote well-being), to name but a few. These chemicals assist the body’s healing processes and offer pain relief as a precursor to other treatments such as manual therapy or exercise in order to aid recovery.

Why and How?

Stewart uses conventional acupuncture which involves the use of single-use, pre-sterilised disposable needles of varying widths, lengths and materials that pierce the skin at the acupuncture points. The locations of these points will be decided following a full assessment of the injury and cause of the issue. A number of needles may be used during each treatment, and these are typically left in position for up to 30 minutes before being removed but can be in for as little as 5 minutes.

Trigger point acupuncture may also be used to help relaxation in specific muscles following traumas, for longer-term unresolved muscle pain, or as a means of increasing muscle length in order to assist with stretching and rehabilitation. In the latter case, the needle is inserted into the affected muscle until the tissue is felt to relax under the needle, which is then removed. Trigger point needling often produces an effect much more quickly, and therefore, does not require the 20–30-minute treatment time.

Is it safe?

Stewart Kerr is a member of the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP).  AACP issue strict guidelines for hygiene and training which professionals are required to follow in order to maintain their membership. The needles are disposable, pre-sterilised and individually packaged. These are often supplied in guide-tubes for easy insertion, which means that there is no risk of anything touching the needle during the process.

Is it effective?

The use of acupuncture needling for the treatment of pain is supported by an ever-growing body of scientific evidence.

Scientific research has examined the effectiveness of acupuncture for various conditions. In recent years large studies have begun to emerge which have helped to support the benefits of acupuncture treatment. For example it is accepted that acupuncture can help tension-type headaches and pain of osteoarthritis, for example osteoarthritis of the knee, especially when it is used in conjunction with other treatments such as physiotherapy.

Acupuncture combined with physiotherapy is widely accepted within both the National Health Service (NHS) and private practice. This is evident in the recommendation by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) that acupuncture should be available as a cost-effective short-term treatment for persistent non-specific low back pain (source: NICE 2009).

If you would like to know more about the use of Acupuncture within physiotherapy treatment, just call the clinic and speak to Stewart or email stewart.kerr@lifefitphysiotherapy.co.uk