Acupuncture

At your first appointment, we will take a detailed medical history and perform an assessment to better understand your condition. This will help us to eliminate any reasons why you may not be able to have the treatment.

You will need to expose the area being treated but we will always maintain your dignity, using towels. You may also wish to wear loose fitting clothing.

Your treatment session will also include advice and education including rehabilitation exercises, if appropriate, to help you gain the most from your treatment.

Most people feel a beneficial effect in the first session but we usually recommend allowing at least three sessions for the treatment to have a lasting effect.

Acupuncture is not painful but you may experience ‘DeQi’ which can be described differently by people such as a warmth, tingling, water flowing or tension feeling.

It is used to treat a wide variety of conditions, such as spinal pain (headaches, neck and back), upper limb disorders (frozen shoulder, rotator cuff pain, tendinosis – tennis and golfer elbow), lower limb knee, foot and ankle and chronic pain.

Acupuncture is used for its analgesic effects (i.e. its ability to reduce pain). It also actively improves healing and the rate of recovery.

There is evidence that confirms the positive effects of acupuncture. Research has shown that the acupuncture needles stimulate various physiological mechanisms in the central nervous system which causes our bodies to naturally release pain-relieving chemicals such as endorphins, melatonin and serotonin. Acupuncture has also been proven to speed up the initial inflammatory response which helps to promote the important secondary healing response.

No, you do not need a referral for an acupuncture appointment.

Initial appointment: £90.
Follow-up appointment: £50 (30 mins) or £70 (45 mins).

The costs for acupuncture are the same as a standard physiotherapist appointment – we do not charge anything additional.

A chartered physiotherapist with additional acupuncture qualifications.

You are advised to have a light snack and to make sure that you are well hydrated prior to the appointment.

Your physiotherapist will discuss a treatment plan with you as part of your shared decision making. A review appointment can be booked at our reception desk, if required.

We can also update your NHS GP or other medical professional on your treatment, if you would like us to.

Acupuncture treatment is safe and the known side effects are rare. We use single-use needles and adhere to infection control policy and guidelines.

There are instances when acupuncture is contraindicated (not a suitable treatment option); however, we will confirm if this is the case in the first part of your initial appointment.

Please note that we do not use acupuncture:

• with people younger than 16 years of age.
• with women in the first trimester of pregnancy.
• with people who have epilepsy.
• with people who are unable to give their consent and in certain other cases.

Yes, you are welcome to bring a friend of family member with you. They may help you to feel more comfortable during the appointment. But you might want to make sure that they are not afraid of needles!