A meeting of Western and Eastern medicines come together with the acupuncture we provide here at The Twyford Clinic. Thousands of years of Chinese knowledge now merge and are integrated into our up to date knowledge of physiology, anatomy and pathology with the practice and principles of evidence based medicine. Recent improvements in brain imaging has been successful in showing how needle insertion and stimulation relate to changes in the brain which relate to the pain and anti-inflammatory control centres.
How does it work?
The alteration in the information afferent and efferent (going to and away from the brain) can be very quickly influenced and ease local discomfort felt. The method we utilise stimulates the nervous system, the known modes of action include segmental and extra segmental neuromodulation, local antidromic axon reflexes releasing neo-peptides and increasing local (nutritive) blood flow. Central nervous system effects include the release of opioid peptides and seratonin, there is also overlap with spinal cord stimulation. This means it will affect and treat locally hypersensitive nerves and their distribution into regions where the nerves serve (dermatomes).
The central effects are the brain stimulation mentioned earlier, the use of specific points can cause a calming effect, this includes for pain, pins and needles and numbness. For musculoskeletal pain the treatment causes an inhibition of the nociceptive pathways at the dorsal horn (this controls the pain information going to and from the brain). Myofascial trigger points (as you would feel a knot in the muscles) can be significantly altered and eased with directed treatment. Some of these points match traditional acupuncture points.
What Happens when acupuncture is indicated?
Each person is fully assessed and their whole system is included in the history including other medical problems. Your biomechanics will indicate which areas of your body are stiff or not controlled well and how they relate to or cause your pain. This will always be addressed as part of the treatment as we believe well functioning biomechanics lead to a healthy pain free body, we will always treat the cause of your pain not just the symptom. Acupuncture is chosen when it will offer an adjunct to treatment or a solution to your pain.
Is acupuncture safe?
Yes, this is very safe and I have trained extensively on multiple post graduate courses to gain the best results. I am a member of the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists. All needles are sterilised and disposable, they are only about as thick as a human hair so is much more comfy than you may think.
I have successfully treated thousands of people with acupuncture, specific conditions include – tennis and golfers elbow, headaches, migraines, back pain, knee pain, shoulder subacromial irritation, pregnancy pains, osteoarthritis. All conditions we see here could be treated with acupuncture and we very often utilise it along wth hands on therapy.
We look forward to seeing you at The Twyford Clinic so we can cure your chronic and acute problems.
Call now on 01962 714979