What is Medical Acupuncture?

Medical acupuncture is a specialised technique that can compliment osteopathic practice. It involves inserting fine, sterile needles into specific trigger points, also known as myofascial trigger points, within muscles and connective tissues. These trigger points are knots or tight bands of muscle fibres that can cause pain and discomfort when compressed or contracted. Medical acupuncture is grounded in a Western medicine-based understanding of neuroanatomy and physiology. The main objective of medical acupuncture is to induce a mechanical, biochemical and physiological response that facilitates the release of muscle tension and activates the body's natural healing mechanisms.

How Medical Acupuncture Works 

During a dry needling session, the osteopath may ask you to adjust your clothing a little so that the area to be treated is exposed. The practitioner will gently use their fingers to locate a trigger point in your muscle and then insert thin, solid needles directly into trigger points, aiming to provoke a local twitch response in the muscle. This involuntary twitching is believed to relieve tension within the muscle fibres, enhance blood circulation to the area, and stimulate the body's production of natural pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins and enkephalins. Additionally, the insertion of needles can disrupt dysfunctional neuromuscular patterns, encouraging the muscles to return to their optimal state of function. By targeting specific trigger points, medical acupuncture seeks to reduce pain, improve joint mobility and restore overall musculoskeletal balance.