Acupuncture & Dry Needling

Acupuncture is a highly effective medical system that has been practised and refined in China for over 2000 years. It uses very fine, disposable needles to restore balance in the different systems of the body. The treatment is effective for a wide range of conditions, including:

  • Women's Health - Traditional Chinese Medicine has so much to offer women. It can be combined with Western Medicine, it does not have side effects and it is very effective for difficult periods (including PMT), menopausal problems and pregnancy.
  • Pregnancy - Pain or nausea during pregnancy and preparation for labour.
  • Pain - Headaches, back and neck pain, digestive disorders.
  • Stress and Tiredness - Insomnia, anxiety and depression.

Acupuncture is also a safe and effective treatment for babies and children of all ages. It has been practiced in China for over 2000 years, and offers an alternative way to treat many common childhood ailments such as:

  • Asthma
  • Eczema
  • Stomach pain/Colic
  • Insomnia
  • Coughs and colds

If you are unsure whether acupuncture would be suitable for your child please call us for a chat.

Our in-house Acupuncturist is Sophie Bevan, who practices the more traditional Acupuncture methods. At the first treatment there is an interview when you will be asked about what you would like to have treated, and also about your health generally. Your pulses at both wrists will be taken and your tongue looked at.

Very fine Japanese needles are used, which are sterile and only used once. The needles are inserted quickly and painlessly, and are then briefly manipulated which may cause an achey or warm sensation.

The needles are left in place for around 20-40 minutes. People usually find this time relaxing and many fall asleep. The treatment may include acupressure massage or a heat lamp.

Dry Needling

Dry needling is the use of a solid needle for therapy. In the treatment of trigger points for persons with myofascial pain syndrome, dry needling is an invasive procedure in which an acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. A myofascial trigger point consists of multiple contraction knots, which are related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle. Proper dry needling of a myofascial trigger point will elicit a local twitch response, which is an involuntary spinal cord reflex in which the muscle fibres in the taut band of muscle contract.

Here at Bodies Under Construction Physio, our Physiotherapists treat these trigger points and we incorporate Acupuncture treatments for use in pain relief.

In order to apply the technique we need your consent and will ask you further basic health questions, and explain any potential side effects.

For more info on Acupuncture as a treatment technique please visit the British acupuncture website www.acupuncture.org.uk or www.aacp.org.uk