dry needling in cheltenham
acupuncture vs dry needling
Acupuncture is an ancient form of therapy which uses the insertion of needles to reduce pain and improve your function by targeting different pathways of energy in your body.
We use a type of Medical Acupuncture also known as Dry Needling as an effective pain treatment which involves inserting needles into specific areas of the muscle known as trigger points to decrease muscle tightness, increase blood flow, and reduce pain.
We offer advanced medical acupuncture physiotherapy to provide targeted treatment for specific areas of pain or discomfort which can result in more effective outcomes, with fewer treatment sessions, and at a lower overall cost to you.
It is called dry needling instead of acupuncture because it is derived from an older medical technique called trigger point injections. These injections were "wet" meaning that practitioners injected a liquid substance through a hypodermic needle. Dry needling uses a solid needles and does not inject anything, hence it is "dry", it is applied in a same way as acupuncture needles but they are inserted at different parts of the body..
During your session, you’ll usually be asked to sit or lie down. You may also be asked to loosen or remove a minimum amount of clothing so that we can access certain parts of your body. This treatment technique provides an environment that enhances the body’s ability to heal which ultimately reduces pain and is widely used in professional sports. Licensed physiotherapists are increasingly using dry needling under the scope of their practice.
As sports injury acupuncture specialists we insert very hair-thin sterile needles which concentrate on the trigger points in the muscle tissue. The procedure usually causes very little pain, in fact most people usually only feel a small prick. We use this type of medical acupuncture to help reduce pain, conquer your muscle knots, improve your range of motion, and reduce your stress. We also integrate medical acupuncture into many of our treatment plans for a wide range of injuries, from sprains and strains to sports injuries, arthritis, back, neck, shoulder pain, whether acute or chronic and inflammation.
We’ve had great success over the years by offering dry needling to patients. In general, we won’t suggest it to patients that we feel won’t benefit. However, dry needling has both pros and cons just like any other healthcare intervention, and these will be discussed with you prior to treatment.
By working together physiotherapy and acupuncture can create a synergistic effect where the sum benefit is greater than either alone. which can lead to a faster and more complete recovery. You can be confident in our expertise of using physiotherapy and medical acupuncture together as we are governed by the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and we are also registered and approved to perform acupuncture in Cheltenham by Cheltenham Borough Council.
dry needling physiotherapy
The NICE chronic pain guidelines (2021) recommend acupuncture for people with chronic i.e. long-term pain.
If you are simply looking to take tension out of overly tight or stressed neck and shoulder areas, then medical acupuncture / dry needling is a very relaxing treatment. If you have a problem which is currently too painful to treat with hands on treatments but need effective pain relief and relaxation, this is perfect and can be used to help start or progress your recovery.
Needles are usually inserted either just under the skin, or sometimes deeper so that they reach the muscle, these are typically left in position for 20-30 minutes before being removed. Several insertion points may be used during a session depending on the symptoms that you have. The needles that we use are very fine, and are pre-sterilised single use, which will be carefully disposed of after use.
Acupuncture was once described as alternative medicine but now acupuncturists work is considered mainstream. Both traditional and medical acupuncture stimulates the body to produce endorphins and oxytocin, which are the body's natural pain and stress relieving chemicals. It promotes sleep by stimulating the release of melatonin in the body, which encourages a sense of well-being by stimulating the release of serotonin. Acupuncture also stimulates nerve fibres to block out pain signals and helps to reduce the sensitivity of tender points in the body.
A course of acupuncture treatment is usually recommended because it can take a few sessions for you to see long-lasting improvements.
“Stuart diagnosed my condition, explained it so ! could understand what was going on with massage, acupuncture, and exercises and helped me recover within a few months. I would absolutely recommend Stuart to anyone with a back problem.”
Becky, Google review
what does dry needling treat
Dry Needling can be used for anyone with musculoskeletal conditions such as joint and muscle pain such as neck pain, shoulder impingement, tennis or golfers elbow, sciatica, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, hip pain, knee pain, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, or low-back pain, overuse injuries and much more.
Our sports injury specialists often use dry needling to relieve short-term pain and as a useful, noninvasive, and conservative option for managing injuries such as lateral meniscus rupture, femoral acetabular impingement, ganglion cysts, and sports hernia.
If you feel that you have muscle knots, areas of tightness or scar tissue problems from an injury then dry needling may be a great way of helping to reduce your symptoms and kick start your recovery.
needle therapy benefits
- Dry needling treatments don’t involve surgery or medication., making them safe for people who can’t or don’t want to undergo other forms of treatment for pain relief with the addition that it has no side effects.
- Dry needling stimulate the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers produced by the body. This can help to reduce pain and promote healing in the injured area.
- Dry needling can improve blood flow to the injured area. It helps by delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to your muscles, promotes healing and reduces inflammation.
- Dry needling is often used in conjunction with other physiotherapy modalities, such as exercise therapy, manual therapy, and heat or ice therapy.
- Dry needling physiotherapy can help to loosen up the muscles and joints, allowing for enhanced muscle function, and an increased range of motion and flexibility.
- Dry needling can help to reduce the formation of scar tissue, a common side effect of injury, which can limit range of motion and cause pain and discomfort.
- Dry needling can help to reduce stress levels, calming the nervous system. Stress can slow down the healing process and make it more difficult to recover from injury.
- Dry needling can help to improve sleep quality and promote relaxation. Sleep and rest are crucial for the body to heal and recover.
IS IT suitable for everyone
Dry needling is a useful tool in the physiotherapists locker for the vast majority of people but like all treatments it may not be appropriate for everyone. It can sometimes cause discomfort during treatment and carries a small risk of bruising or bleeding at the insertion sites. Therefore we won't recommend it for people with certain medical conditions or risk factors. such as people on blood thinners, an infection in the affected area, bleeding disorders, compromised immune systems, a metal allergy, or a fear of needles.
Additionally, there are certain anatomical areas where dry needling should be approached with caution to avoid potential complications or injuries.
During your initial evaluation, we will take your medical history and individual condition into account and we won’t suggest dry needling as an option if you fall into one of the above categories. However, if you’ve got any questions about whether or not dry needling is a good fit for you, make sure to discuss this with your physiotherapist.
Book now
We offer acupuncture in Cheltenham as a stand-alone pain treatment or integrated into broader treatment plans. Our acupuncturists will work with you to tailor your treatment, based on medical history, current condition and recovery goals.
We understand that some people may want to find out a bit more about the cost before they book an appointment at our physiotherapy clinic. Our unique save as you recover packages can save you up to 20% on the cost of a single session.
For most injuries our chartered physio can usually treat you within 4 to 8 sessions.
Insured
We can either work directly with your insurance company or we can provide receipts for patients who use cash-based plans so you can reclaim your treatment costs.
Not Insured
You can book an appointment on a self referral basis, without the need for seeing your GP first.
Why Choose Us
No other local physiotherapy clinic can offer you the same level of physiotherapy and rehabilitation that we can, simply because they don't have our level of experience and our in-house gym facilities.
This is how we gained our reputation of treating patients when other physios may have failed.