The art of medical acupuncture at our clinic.

Medical acupuncture, also known as dry needling, is a Western, evidence-based technique that uses fine needles inserted into specific muscles and trigger points to relieve tension, reduce pain, and restore normal movement. Unlike Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture, it's based on anatomical and neurophysiological principles rather than concepts like meridians or energy flow, and is typically used to treat musculoskeletal conditions specifically.

You may feel a brief twitch, ache, or cramping sensation as the needle reaches a tight muscle or trigger point — this is a normal response and often indicates the muscle is releasing. Most patients find any discomfort brief and manageable, and many feel noticeably looser afterwards.

Medical acupuncture and dry needling is a Western medical technique focused specifically on musculoskeletal problems — releasing tight muscles and trigger points based on anatomy and the nervous system. Our Traditional Chinese Acupuncture takes a broader, whole-body approach rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, including pulse and tongue diagnosis, and is used for a wider range of conditions beyond musculoskeletal pain. Your practitioner can advise which approach suits your situation.

Yes, this is a core part of how we work. Medical acupuncture is often combined with hands-on osteopathic treatment in the same appointment, since releasing tight muscle tissue with needling and then restoring joint mobility with manual therapy tends to produce better, faster results than either technique alone. Your practitioner will discuss whether a combined approach is right for your condition.

This depends on your condition and how your muscles respond to treatment. Many patients notice a reduction in tension and pain after just one or two sessions, particularly for acute muscle tightness, while chronic conditions may benefit from a longer course combined with rehabilitation exercise.

Yes, when carried out by a qualified, experienced practitioner using sterile, single-use needles. Mild bruising, brief soreness, or tiredness in the treated muscle is common and typically resolves within a day or two. Your practitioner will take a full history before treatment to check it's appropriate for you.

Dry needling is specifically suited to musculoskeletal problems involving muscle tightness or trigger points — including back and neck pain, sports injuries, tension-related headaches, and chronic muscular pain — rather than the broader range of conditions treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture.