Evidence-Based Acupuncture for Pain Relief and Recovery
Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body to reduce pain, promote healing, and support your recovery. When delivered by a trained physiotherapist, it is used as a clinically reasoned tool that complements your broader treatment plan—bridging the gap between manual therapy and active exercise.
At The Physiotherapy Centre, our chartered physiotherapists practise Medical Acupuncture (also known as Western Acupuncture or Dry Needling). This approach is grounded in modern anatomy and neurophysiology rather than traditional theory. It is a treatment option recommended by NICE for various chronic pain conditions, and we offer it to patients across Waterlooville, Havant, and the wider Hampshire area.
How Medical Acupuncture Works
Medical acupuncture is used to influence the nervous system and the body’s natural healing chemistry. When the needles are inserted, they trigger several physiological responses:
- Pain Modulation: The needles stimulate nerves in the skin and muscle, sending signals to the brain and spinal cord to release natural pain relieving chemicals like endorphins and enkephalins.
- Trigger Point Release (Dry Needling): By targeting "knots" or trigger points in the muscle, the needle can provoke a local twitch response, helping the muscle to relax and restoring normal blood flow to the area.
- Reduced Inflammation: The process can stimulate a local healing response, increasing blood circulation to tissues that have become stagnant or chronically inflamed.
- Nervous System Regulation: It can help calm an overactive nervous system, which is particularly beneficial for patients dealing with long term, persistent pain.
Conditions We Treat
Acupuncture is used within our clinic for the following conditions:
Low Back Pain and Neck Pain
NICE guidelines include acupuncture as a treatment option for chronic primary pain, which includes persistent low back and neck pain. Acupuncture can reduce pain intensity and improve function when combined with exercise.
Nerve Pain Such as Sciatica
Acupuncture can help modulate nerve-related pain by stimulating the body’s natural pain-relieving mechanisms, including endorphin release and descending inhibitory pathways.
Joint Pain
Acupuncture is used to manage pain in the hip, shoulder, ankle, and other joints, particularly where inflammation and muscle guarding are contributing to restricted movement.
Osteoarthritis of the Knee
There is good evidence supporting acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis. It is commonly used alongside strengthening exercises and manual therapy to manage symptoms.
Tendon Injuries Such as Tennis Elbow
Acupuncture can reduce pain and improve grip strength in lateral epicondylalgia, often allowing patients to engage more effectively with their rehabilitation exercises.
Headaches and Migraines
Acupuncture is supported by NICE for the prophylactic treatment of chronic tension-type headaches and migraines. A course of treatment can reduce the frequency and severity of episodes.
How We Treat: Our Approach
This section is crucial for grounding the treatment in science. It clarifies that the “magic” of the needle is actually a biological response, and it ensures patients understand that acupuncture is a gateway to better movement, not just a passive treatment.
The Clinical Application of Acupuncture
At The Physiotherapy Centre, we don’t just “apply” needles; we use them as a strategic intervention based on your unique clinical profile.
Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
Acupuncture is never a guess. Your physiotherapist begins with a comprehensive assessment to identify the root cause of your pain. We only recommend acupuncture if the evidence suggests it will specifically help your condition—for example, by desensitising a nerve or releasing a stubborn muscle knot. It is integrated into your treatment plan alongside exercise and education, ensuring we treat the cause of your pain, not just the symptoms.
What Happens During Treatment
We use only the highest quality, single-use, sterile needles, which are significantly finer than those used for injections or blood tests.
- Targeted Placement: Needles are placed in local points (near the pain), segmental points (targeting the nerve supply from the spine), or trigger points (tight knots in the muscle).
- The Sensation: Most patients feel very little upon insertion. You may experience a mild dull ache, a sense of warmth, or a slight tingling. This is known as the "De Qi" sensation and is a positive sign that your nervous system is responding to the stimulus.
- Duration: Needles typically remain in place for 15 to 30 minutes, during which time many patients feel a deep sense of relaxation.
How Acupuncture Works: The Science
Medical acupuncture works by “talking” to your nervous system. By stimulating specific sensory nerves, it triggers a cascade of healing responses:
- Natural Pharmacy: It stimulates the brain to release endorphins and serotonin, your body’s most powerful natural pain relievers.
- Pain Gate Control: It helps close the gate on pain signals travelling to the brain via the spinal cord.
- Tissue Environment: It reduces local inflammation and muscle tension while increasing blood flow to the area, providing the oxygen and nutrients needed for tissue repair.
Safety and Practicalities
- Chartered Expertise: All our clinicians providing acupuncture are members of the AACP (Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists), ensuring the highest standards of safety and clinical reasoning.
- Course of Treatment: While some patients feel an immediate lift in symptoms, the effects are often cumulative. We typically recommend a course of 3 to 6 sessions to achieve the best long term results.
- Aftercare: You may feel slightly tired or sleepy after treatment. We recommend staying well hydrated and avoiding strenuous exercise for a few hours following your session.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
This final practical wrap-up ensures patients feel comfortable and informed about the logistics of their session. It effectively positions acupuncture as a low-stress, high-value addition to their care.
Your Acupuncture Appointment: What to Expect
At The Physiotherapy Centre, we ensure that your introduction to acupuncture is calm, professional, and clearly explained. Your initial appointment lasts 45 to 60 minutes, providing ample time for a detailed assessment followed by your first treatment if it is clinically appropriate for you.
Practicalities for your visit:
- What to wear: Please wear loose, comfortable clothing. Depending on your condition, your physiotherapist may need to access your back, neck, arms, or legs. We always ensure your comfort and privacy are maintained throughout the session.
- Preparation: You do not need to do anything specific to prepare, though it is usually best not to attend on a completely empty stomach.
- Post-Treatment Sensation: Most patients feel very relaxed or even slightly drowsy immediately after the needles are removed.
Recovery and Results
While it is perfectly safe to drive home after your session, we often suggest taking a few minutes in our reception area to relax before you head off.
The response to acupuncture varies between individuals:
- Immediate Relief: Some patients notice a reduction in pain or improved mobility before they even leave the clinic.
- Cumulative Benefit: For others, the effects are more subtle and build over several sessions as the nervous system becomes less sensitive and muscle tension gradually resets.
Pricing and Appointments
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Initial Assessment £79 (45 minutes) or £89 (60 minutes)
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Follow-Up Session £78 (30 minutes)
Conveniently Located in Waterlooville
- The Physiotherapy Centre 96 London Road, Widley, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 5AB
- Mon: 8.00–7.00 | Tue: 8.00–7.30 | Wed: 8.00–8.00 | Thu: 8.00–7.00 | Fri: 8.00–5.00 | Sat: 8.30–1.00
- We serve patients from Widley, Purbrook, Waterlooville, Cosham, Havant, and Petersfield. The clinic is on the old A3 / London Road, just north of Portsdown Hill, near the Hampshire Rose pub. The No. 8 bus (Bushy Mead) stops just up the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is acupuncture painful?
Most patients describe a mild sensation when the needle is inserted—a brief scratch followed by a dull ache, tingling, or warmth. The needles used are extremely fine (approximately 0.25mm in diameter), and most people find the treatment comfortable and relaxing. This is quite different from the sensation of a hypodermic injection.
How many acupuncture sessions will I need?
A typical course is four to six sessions, though this depends on your condition. Chronic conditions such as persistent headaches may benefit from a longer course. Your physiotherapist will assess your response after two to three sessions and advise on whether to continue.
Is medical acupuncture the same as traditional Chinese acupuncture?
The technique is similar—fine needles inserted into specific points—but the reasoning behind point selection is different. Medical acupuncture uses an evidence-based, anatomical approach, selecting points based on their neurophysiological effects. Traditional Chinese acupuncture is based on the concept of energy flow (Qi) through meridians. Our approach is grounded in current scientific evidence.
Can acupuncture help with conditions not listed on this page?
Possibly. If you have a condition that is not listed, contact the clinic to discuss whether acupuncture might be helpful. Your physiotherapist will always carry out a full assessment before recommending it.
Are there any side effects?
Side effects are uncommon and usually minor. You may experience slight bruising at the needle site, temporary drowsiness, or a mild increase in symptoms for a short period before improvement occurs. Serious adverse effects are extremely rare when acupuncture is carried out by a trained physiotherapist using sterile, single-use needles.
Can I have acupuncture if I am taking blood thinners?
In most cases, yes—but your physiotherapist will need to know about any medications you are taking, including anticoagulants. Treatment may be adapted (for example, using fewer needles or avoiding certain points) to minimise the risk of bruising.
Does the NHS recommend acupuncture?
NICE includes acupuncture as a treatment option for chronic primary pain, chronic tension-type headaches, and migraine prevention. It is not recommended by NICE for all conditions, and your physiotherapist will only use it where there is a reasonable evidence base.
Can I have acupuncture during pregnancy?
Acupuncture can be used during pregnancy, but certain points must be avoided. Your physiotherapist will discuss this with you and adapt treatment accordingly. If you are pregnant, please let the clinic know when booking.
Do I need a referral for acupuncture?
No. You can self-refer directly by contacting the clinic. If your GP or consultant has recommended acupuncture, that is helpful background information but not a requirement.
Can I claim acupuncture on my health insurance?
Acupuncture provided by a chartered physiotherapist is covered by many insurance policies as part of physiotherapy treatment. Contact your insurer to confirm whether it is included under your plan.
Team