Physiotherapy and Acupuncture
Συγγραφέας Αργυρώ Θεοδωράκη Γράφτηκε στις ,
Physiotherapy is the treatment and prevention of injury and disease by natural means. These natural means involve many varied skills gained over several years of extensive recognised training in order to achieve the title of Chartered Physiotherapist. The aim of physiotherapy is to help alleviate pain, restore normal movement and function patterns and help return the body to its natural balanced state without chemical intervention.
Physiotherapists employ a wide range of skills to achieve this:
Electrotherapy
Manipulation
Mobilisation
Muscle balance techniques
Exercise
Hydrotherapy
Rehabilitation
Relaxation
Re-education
Neurodynamics
Acupuncture
Physiotherapists have a clinical autonomy and knowledge to decide the best treatment for the patient based on experiential learning, clinical experience and a growing body of research evidence. The research evidence shows that physiotherapy is providing the answers; the combination of diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation skills enables us to offer patients multi-dimensional approaches to treating conditions and restoring near normal function and movement.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is one of the varied skills offered by physiotherapists.
The existence of traditional Chinese Medicine [TCM] can be traced through written scripts as far back as 1000BC. TCM is founded on the holistic concept of treatment and an acknowledgement of the body’s ability to return to its balanced state of health, given the correct stimulus to do so.
The two forces that need to be in balance are YIN [negative] and YANG [positive]. Treatment with acupuncture is undertaken bearing in mind the cause of the imbalance, which manifests itself as symptoms – rather than addressing the symptoms and leaving the cause unrectified.
The body is a self-repairing mechanism and any interference through the use of acupuncture, acupressure or electro-acupunctural means is aimed at encouraging this self-healing ability. There is a deep circulation of energy uniting the inner organs and a superficial system that flows below the surface of the skin. Both the superficial energy and the deeper energy can be influenced by the stimulation of specific points on the body.
Research evidence shows that acupuncture stimulates the brain to produce NATURAL pain relieving chemicals, endorphins. These assist the body to heal itself and offer pain relief. The traditional view is that QI (energy) flows around the body in channels. If the QI is flowing freely, the body is in a healthy state. If there is injury, disease or mechanical defects, then the energy stagnates.
The stimulation of relevant acupuncture points frees this stagnation.
There are several techniques in applying Acupuncture:
CONVENTIONAL – Conventional acupuncture involves the use of pre- sterilised disposable needles of varying of various widths, lengths and materials that pierce the skin at the Acupuncture points.
ACUPRESSURE – Acupressure is a healing art that uses the fingers of the Physiotherapist on the key Acupuncture points. The amount of pressure used varies according to the condition and requires trained, sensitive hands. Conditions treated with Acupressure include headaches, shoulder pain, anxiety, stress, nausea, travel sickness and insomnia.
LASER ACUPUNCTURE – Laser is the acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The use of Lasers to effect treatment is known as low-level laser therapy [LLT] [Baxter 1994]. Laser stimulation may be used to effect any Acupuncture treatment for which needles are typically used. It is particularly suited for nervous patients, children, sports injuries, sensitive areas and ears. Laser Acupuncture may be available from Physiotherapists who are fully trained in the correct application and contra-indications of laser therapy.
MOXIBUSTION AND CUPPING – Moxibustion and Cupping are techniques used to introduce warmth into the Acupuncture points and Meridians. This has the effect of increasing the circulation, removing waste products, reducing muscle spasm and pain. It may also be used as precursor to the Physiotherapist stretching the damaged tissue or mobilising a joint. Conditions treated with the technique include Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and musculoskeletal problems.
ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE – Following the selection of acupuncture points, inserted needles can be coupled to the electrodes of an electro-acupuncture apparatus. These units are designed to deliver variable amplitudes and frequencies of electrical impulses.
Low frequency electro-acupuncture is intended to contribute to the mechanism of pain reduction, especially in incidences of chronic pain.
High frequency electro-acupuncture is effective in obtaining muscle relaxation and pain reduction and is often used to reduce muscle spasm prior to other manual mobilising techniques used by physiotherapists.
Will it Work for me?
Research has shown that most people gain pain relief from acupuncture. This is due to the release of endorphs into the body during the acupuncture process. Endorphs are pain inhibiting substances offering the patient an analgesic effect. The scientific proof of the release of endorphs allows acupuncture to be integrated with conventional medicine. Clinical trials provide evidence that it has a powerful and sustained effect on muscular skeletal pain.
Patients treated with Acupuncture will generally require at least three treatments before the physiotherapist can be certain there is a reaction. Strong reactors will show changes immediately after the first treatment and may even become slightly worse initially. The majority of patients experience a gradual change in symptoms.
Traditional Chinese Medicine [TCM] holds that ten treatments form a course and often patients may be given as many as three courses. Western medicine demands more rapid results, most patients receiving a course of 7-8 treatments and achieving good results. Where patients have chronic conditions, they are encouraged to return every 6 months or so for ‘top ups’. This keeps the symptoms under control and usually entails 1 or 2 treatments.
It is essential that a ‘needling’ sensation is felt by the patient at every acupuncture point. This sensation is known as the deqi. This is described as a numbness, fullness, deep aching, warmth or occasionally electric shock.
Acupuncture does not work for everybody or for every condition, but good results are frequently achieved when the more conventional fields have been tried and failed.
You do not have to believe for it to work.
The effect of acupuncture is cumulative. Pain relief builds up as treatment progresses, some responding rapidly while others take more time.
Chronic conditions often take longer to respond and occasionally become worse at first, but often respond well after this initial phase of discomfort.
Is Acupuncture safe?
Acupuncture is safe when practised by a member of the AACP because of the strict hygiene guidelines, training courses and educational updates required to stay on the membership register.
The needles are disposable, pre-sterilised. Physiotherapists undertake a responsibility to themselves and their patients, to be sure from the outset of their treatment that the principles of safe, hygienic insertion of needles and their subsequent disposal are adhered to.
Full [Accredited] membership of AACP is granted only on evidence that a physiotherapist has completed at least eighty hours of training on courses approved by the AACP.
Why do I choose a physiotherapist?
Chartered Physiotherapists work in close conjunction with General Practionners Consultants and other Health Care professions. They have undergone a 3 or 4 year degree in Western medicine before embarking on further acupuncture training at post graduate level.
Chartered Physiotherapists are bound by a strict professional and ethical code. The Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists has an additional strict code of practice. Members of the AACP are required to keep up with a stated minimum number of CPD hours per year in order to remain on the register.
What Conditions may be treated?
A large range of conditions can be treated by Acupuncture within Physiotherapy. Some examples of conditions where successful treatment can be obtained are shown below:
Acute Injuries
Sports Injuries
Whiplash
Back pain
Neck pain
Headaches
Stress Related Illnesses
Chronic Injuries
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Joint Pain
Women’s Health
Hormone Imbalances
Asthma
Bronchitis
Strokes
Migraine
Skin Conditions
Eczema
Allergies
Breathing Problems
Smoking
Diet Control.
