Medical Acupuncture

Medical acupuncture is particularly effective in addressing musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. One of the key benefits is its ability to reduce myofascial trigger points, the tight, tender nodules within muscle that can refer pain to other areas. By inserting fine needles into these trigger points, abnormal electrical activity within the muscle fibres can be disrupted, allowing the muscle to relax and reducing localised hypertonia (Zhou & Benharash, 2014). This effect is often accompanied by improved blood flow and a normalisation of muscle tone, which supports recovery when combined with progressive rehabilitation.

Pain reduction is another well-documented outcome of medical acupuncture. The insertion of needles stimulates the release of endogenous opioids such as endorphins, as well as neurotransmitters like serotonin and noradrenaline, which collectively help modulate pain at both spinal and brain levels (Vickers et al., 2018). Recent reviews have highlighted that medical acupuncture can be particularly useful in chronic pain conditions, offering benefits comparable to or greater than some pharmacological treatments, but with far fewer side effects (MacPherson et al., 2017).

At The Injury Hub, we deliver medical acupuncture either as a stand-alone therapy or integrated alongside other treatments such as osteopathy, physiotherapy, and structured rehabilitation. This combined approach often yields the best results, as acupuncture can reduce pain and muscle guarding, making it easier for patients to tolerate manual therapy, exercise, and progressive loading programmes. For example, releasing tight musculature with acupuncture may enable more effective mobilisation of a stiff joint, or make strength exercises more achievable and less painful.

Because we use medical acupuncture within an evidence-based framework, treatment is highly individualised. Some patients may respond best with acupuncture alone, while others gain greater benefit when it is used as an adjunct to shockwave therapy, osteopathy, or physiotherapy. Our practitioners are trained to assess which approach is most appropriate, ensuring every treatment plan is safe, targeted, and effective.

References
MacPherson, H., Vertosick, E.A., Foster, N.E., Lewith, G., Linde, K., Sherman, K.J., Witt, C.M. & Vickers, A.J. (2017) ‘The persistence of the effects of acupuncture after a course of treatment: a meta-analysis of patients with chronic pain’, Pain, 158(5), pp. 784–793.

Vickers, A.J., Vertosick, E.A., Lewith, G., MacPherson, H., Foster, N.E., Sherman, K.J., Linde, K. & Witt, C.M. (2018) ‘Acupuncture for chronic pain: Update of an individual patient data meta-analysis’, Journal of Pain, 19(5), pp. 455–474.

Zhou, W. & Benharash, P. (2014) ‘Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture based on the principle of meridians’, Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 7(4), pp. 190–193.