Despite their apparent differences, acupuncture and physiotherapy complement one another incredibly. Recent scientific research into the neurophysiology of pain is demonstrating how dry needling (the use of acupuncture needles on painfully tender points in the body) can produce permanent relief of pain in appropriate circumstances.

Myofascial Trigger Points

Myofascial Trigger Points are regularly seen by physiotherapists and that respond very well to acupuncture (dry needling). The stimulation of painfully hypersensitive nerve endings with a fine needle, reduces the irritability of the nerve ending and ultimately, reduces the strength of the pain message. Physiotherapy modalities of heat, massage, stretching and strengthening enhance the recovery and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Myofascial trigger points tend to occur most often in the muscles of the shoulder and pelvic girdles and the jaw. They tend to affect sedentary people and middle aged women most often, and occur as the result of overuse and/or unaccustomed activities.

As a normal response to the trauma produced by the overuse and/or unaccustomed activities, the local pain nerve endings become sensitised. Acute pain is an important warning of the need for rest. After a few days the sensitivity is reduced as per the normal recovery process, however for reasons not yet known, a self-perpetuating circuit in the nervous system may be set up which maintains the sensitivity of the pain nerve endings long after healing has occurred. Normal daily activities are then sufficient to fire off the nerve endings so that pain occurs. The pain is often made worse by cold, so is more obvious in the cool of night or at rest.