Acupuncture is one of the many skills employed within physiotherapy as part of an integrated approach to the management of pain and inflammation. Physiotherapists base their treatments on scientific research and clinical evidence. It is believed that Acupuncture can reduce pain by stimulating the brain and spinal cord to produce natural pain-relieving chemicals such as endorphins, melatonin (which promotes sleep) and serotonin (to promote well-being), to name but a few.
These chemicals assist the body’s healing processes and offer pain relief as a precursor to other treatments, such as manual therapy or exercise, in order to aid recovery.
Acupuncture forms part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This ancient system of medicine dates back as far as 1000 years BC and is based on a holistic concept of treatment which regards ill health as a manifestation of imbalance in the body’s energy. Re-establishing a correct balance is the aim of TCM. Energy is referred to as Qi, (pronounced chee) and is described in terms of Yin energy – quiet and calm – and Yang energy – vigorous and exciting. They are complementary opposites and in health exist in a dynamic but balanced state in the body. Practitioners of TCM believe that stimulating certain Acupuncture points on the body can help to restore the balance between Yin and Yang that becomes disturbed in illness.
Central Health Physiotherapy are members of the AACP (Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists). They combine TCM principles with scientific evidence as a means of reducing pain and promoting healing. This aims to enhance physiotherapy treatments such as exercise and rehabilitation techniques to promote recovery and improve quality of life.
Acupuncture can be performed by our physiotherapists at all of our five locations across London. If you would like more information on the benefits of Acupuncture please call 020 7404 6343 to talk to one of our AACP physiotherapists.
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