Acupuncture under Physiotherapy Practice

Service Description

Acupuncture is a modality that is now being used in Western medicine as part of an integrated approach to the management of pain, inflammation, hot flushes, & general well-being. It reduces pain by stimulating brain & spinal cord, producing natural pain-reliving chemicals such as melatonin & serotonin which can influence sleep & feeling of well-being. Conventional acupuncture involves the use of single-use, pre-sterilized disposable needles of varying widths, lengths, & materials that pierce the skin at the acupuncture points. The physiotherapist will determine the locations of these points based on an assessment of the cause of the imbalance. Several needles may be used during each treatment, & theses are typically left in position for 10-15 minutes before being removed. Trigger point acupuncture may also be used to facilitate relaxation in specific muscles following traumas, long-term unresolved muscle pain, or as means of increasing muscle length to aid stretch & rehabilitation. The needle is inserted into the affected muscle until the tissue is felt to relax under the needle, which is then removed. It often produces an effect much more quickly, and therefore, does not require 10-15 minutes treatment time.