…Is acupuncture a realistic alternative to physiotherapy?…

Is acupuncture a realistic alternative to physiotherapy?

acupuncture-main

If you’re experiencing chronic pain that just doesn’t seem to want to go away chances are you want to try and find a way to make it subside. Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that has been shown to help in many cases of pain, especially in the lower back and joints such as the knees. Many physiotherapists actually study for acupuncture qualifications so they can provide the treatment in addition to other methods of physiotherapy.

Acupuncture has not only been shown to reduce pain and inflammation, but also to stimulate the growth of muscle. This is why using acupuncture for muscle rehab is a popular choice for some patients and professionals. We’re going to take a look at what acupuncture actually is and why more and more physiotherapists are harnessing its attributes in their treatments.

What is acupuncture?

laura merie Acupuncture treatment

laura merie Acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture originated as Chinese medicine, and it’s been in use for over three thousand years. You may have heard the word Qi used. This is an energy force that runs through the body in channels known as meridians. This Qi lies at the heart of what acupuncture is all about. The belief is that blockages in the Qi lead to sickness and pain. Acupuncture removes the blockages and allows the Qi to flow again.

That’s the traditional belief in the power of acupuncture. Modern day scientists have found that there also appears to be some scientific basis to the power of acupuncture. It seems that manipulating body tissues where there is pain radiating from muscles can help to ease discomfort. It’s not completely clear why this is the case.

What happens during acupuncture treatments?

You may know a little about how acupuncture works. We’ll explain a little more. Several very fine sterile needles are inserted into the skin at various points along the channels or meridians. The practitioner then manipulates the needles. This often results in the experiencing of a dull ache for the patient. It’s this part of the process that is believed to restore the flow of Qi. Where in the body treatment is carried out depends on what the problem is and where it is located.

Acupuncture or physiotherapy?

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The title of this article asks whether acupuncture is an alternative to physiotherapy. The truth is that although acupuncture is still regarded as an alternative medicine it has become more mainstream. Many physiotherapists receive training in acupuncture. Rather than being an alternative to physiotherapy, acupuncture is often used in conjunction with other physiotherapy techniques. Much the same as with many types of medical treatment, different patients benefits from physiotherapy in different ways. For many, the use of acupuncture has been shown to be successful in reducing chronic pain when other forms of physiotherapy alone had limited or no effect. Rather than speaking of acupuncture as a realistic alternative to physiotherapy it’s probably more accurate to refer to it as complementing more traditional forms of physiotherapy.

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