Medical Acupuncture
Trigger point therapy and neuromodulation
At The Sussex Osteopaths, we practice a form of Acupuncture called Medical Acupuncture, an adaptation of the more traditional Chinese Acupuncture. So whilst many needling points correlate to the traditional meridians, they are predominately located using up-to-date anatomical knowledge, advanced palpation and trigger points. Callum and Sophie are trained through the British Medical Acupuncture Society, and acupuncture can be used as a stand-alone or integrated within an osteopathic treatment.
One effective treatment used on expectant mothers is a gentle, soothing technique that allows relief to the mother while her body is changing, all while ensuring no harm to the unborn child. This type of treatment does not use any medication and is suitable for patients of all ages. It can also be effective in treating coccyx injuries, headaches, and back pain.
Acupuncture is widely used for Musculoskeletal pain such as:
- Low back pain
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Headaches
- Trigger point pain
- Arthritic joint pain
What to Expect
The treatment involves fine needles inserted into very precise points through the skin. The number of needles needed varies but can be as little as one or two. Most patients are pleasantly surprised that acupuncture is far less painful than often anticipated. Depending on the point being needled, patients’ responses range from a ‘dull-aching feeling’ to a ‘muscular twitch’. Both are good signs! We are working on an area that will probably benefit from the treatment.
If you are not good with needles or nervous about the treatment, we can either use very small needles to get you used to what to expect, or we can use no needles! This method is called ‘acupressure’ or ‘trigger point therapy, which uses the same points on the body, but pressure rather than a needle is applied. If you have any concerns, your osteopath will be more than willing to answer any questions or explain the procedure.