King Sport Physiotherapy discusses acupuncture, why it is a widely used treatment option and its various benefits to patients. Acupuncture is a modality that has been used for pain relief, healing and general wellbeing. It has been believed that the Chinese people have been using this form of traditional medicine for over 3000 years. By definition, acupuncture refers to the insertion of fine needles into any part of the body in need of relief.
Based on the needs of a patient, acupuncture may be included as part of a physio treatment approach. Acupuncture helps patients to achieve pain relief through the stimulation of the nervous system which triggers the body’s natural ability to produce pain relieving neuro-chemicals. Physiotherapists in Takapuna or anywhere else use solid needles with fine points and with varying widths and lengths. Needles are individually sealed in a plastic casing for single use then disposed of at the end of treatment. A number of needles may be used in a treatment session and will be left in position for a number of minutes before removal, depending on the nature of the injury.
Aside from pain relief, acupuncture can also be used to help free up connected tissue like ligaments and tendons. Dry needling, a form of trigger point acupuncture, is used by King Sport Physio to improve or restore the function of these dysfunctional tissue. The aim here is to stimulate the nerve endings by inserting needles into trigger points of affected muscles. At the same time, acupuncture aids in healing of tendons and ligaments. Furthermore, it reduces the need for frequent massage. Other benefits of acupuncture for patients include decreased inflammation and increased blood flow.
Physiotherapists may recommend undergoing acupuncture along with other methods of treatment or even different types of acupuncture that may not involve the insertion of needles to achieve the best results.
Brendan King
Recent Comments