Acupuncture & Dry Needling

Acupuncture at Bodyworks Physiotherapy & Wellness

Acupuncture is a gentle, evidence‑supported technique that uses very fine, sterile needles to influence the nervous system, muscles, and circulation. While rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, the acupuncture we use is grounded in modern anatomy, physiology, and pain science. Our physiotherapists that are qualified in acupuncture can integrate it into your treatment plan to help reduce pain, release muscle tension, and support natural healing.

 

How Acupuncture Works

Western medical acupuncture stimulates nerves in the skin and muscle, prompting the release of natural pain‑relieving chemicals such as endorphins. This can help calm pain, relax overactive muscles, improve blood flow, and reduce inflammation.

Traditional acupuncture is based on the concept of Qi—your body’s natural energy—flowing through channels called meridians. While this traditional framework differs from Western medical theory, both approaches share the goal of restoring balance and supporting health.

 

What It Can Help With 

Physiotherapists commonly use acupuncture to support recovery from a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including:

• Headaches and migraines

• Neck or lower back pain

• Osteoarthritis

• Muscle tension, spasms, and trigger points

• Sports injuries or post‑surgical rehabilitation

(Please note: Bodyworks Physiotherapy & Wellness does not provide acupuncture for infertility, anxiety, or asthma.)

Acupuncture may also be used for ACC‑covered injuries when clinically appropriate.

 

Acupuncture Assessment & Treatment

Your first session includes a discussion about your health, medical history, and current symptoms, followed by a physical examination. If acupuncture is suitable for you, your physiotherapist will explain how it works, what to expect, and how it fits into your broader treatment plan. Your informed consent is always required before any needling begins.

Please let your physiotherapist know if you are pregnant or have any blood‑borne conditions such as HIV, hepatitis, or haemophilia, as this may influence how we tailor your treatment.

 

During The Session

You may be asked to sit or lie comfortably, and in some cases remove clothing so the physiotherapist can access the relevant area. The needles used are single‑use, pre‑sterilised, and disposed of immediately after treatment.

Depending on your presentation, your physiotherapist may use anywhere from 1 to 12 needles (sometimes more), placed either just under the skin or deeper into muscle tissue. The needles may remain in place for a few minutes up to around 30 minutes. Some people feel a mild tingling or dull ache when the needles are inserted—this is normal—but you should never feel significant pain. If you do, or if you feel unsure at any point, please tell your therapist straight away.

Occasionally, your physiotherapist may gently rotate the needles or use a mild electrical current (electroacupuncture) to enhance the effect.

 

Safety, Comfort & Side Effects

Most people find acupuncture comfortable and relaxing. Mild side effects such as temporary drowsiness or lightheadedness can occur but are usually short‑lived. Your therapist will monitor your response throughout the session and adjust the treatment as needed.

You are encouraged to ask questions at any time and to let your physiotherapist know immediately if you feel uncomfortable. Your comfort and safety are always our priority.

 

What to Expect

If acupuncture is part of your treatment plan, it will be carried out in a calm, professional setting and integrated seamlessly with your physiotherapy session. Many people notice meaningful improvements in pain, mobility, or muscle tension shortly after treatment.

 

What Is Trigger Point Dry Needling?

Trigger point dry needling is an extremely effective technique that uses a very fine acupuncture needle to “deactivate” or “shut down” painful or knotted areas in your muscles.

Many of us have areas in our body that feel tense all the time or feel like a hard ball in the muscle. By inserting fine needles into these tight areas, we elicit a “twitch response” or a brief contraction followed by an immediate and long lasting relaxation. Because the needle can treat very deep parts of the muscle, the technique can achieve amazing pain relief that you never thought was possible.

Trigger point dry needling is used for:

• Give you lasting pain relief from head to toe
• Eliminate tension, wherever you hold it
• Heal overuse injuries
• Get rid of knots in muscles
• Help muscles heal after injury
• Release tight muscles
• Speed healing time
• Improve blood flow at a deep level
• Stimulate a muscle to work better
• Prevent injuries in the first place
• Get people back exercising ASAP
• Heal chronic injuries of muscles, tendons and joints

Will Trigger Point Dry Needling Help Me?

Does massage give you great relief, but doesn’t last as long as you would like?

People who have good results with massage but are disappointed when the discomfort returns will find trigger point dry needling a great way to get more long lasting relief.

Trigger point dry needling works best for people with overuse injuries, chronic pain, and sports injuries. We are able to treat nearly any muscle in the body and can treat the muscle at depths impossible with other types of bodywork.

Trigger point dry needling is a great way to get more out of your physiotherapist by allowing us to get rid of the deep knots and restrictions that have, up until now, been unreachable.

Trigger point dry needling is not appropriate for people with brand new injuries that are swollen and acutely painful. It is also not always appropriate for people who have excessively loose joints, but an evaluation will help us make that decision.

Does The Needle Hurt?

Because acupuncture needles are very fine and solid, they don’t hurt as they pass through the skin like a hollow injection needle does. The sensations people report are “deep aching”, “pressure”, “releasing”, “blood flow”, or “soreness”.

The needle is left in for a very short period of time, just long enough to relax the muscle. The procedure is repeated in different areas until the muscle returns to its normal, relaxed state.

Because we treat sensitive areas, there is some discomfort. However, short term discomfort is well worth tolerating considering the long term relief trigger point dry needling provides.

How Many Needles Will I Need?

We will start very slowly during the first session to give you a feel for the technique. The first session will focus on a few muscles that are key to your problem. These key areas can give you excellent relief with less soreness.

Subsequent treatments will target more specific areas to fine-tune the effect. Sessions are usually spaced 5-7 days apart and you should expect to feel a marked difference after only 1-2 sessions.

How Will I Feel After Trigger Point Dry Needling?

You will know positive change has occurred right after the session, because you will be sore in the way that you would feel after too much activity.

The muscle will feel fatigued and the soreness can last from a few hours to 1-2 days but should not interfere with your everyday activities.

We encourage you to be active during this time to keep the soreness to a minimum. After a day or so, you’ll experience a new feeling of less pain and tightness that will last. The chronic injury you thought was there to stay will actually start to improve.

Please call us today to give trigger point dry needling a try. You won’t believe how good you will feel!

References

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Acupuncture/Pages/Introduction.aspx