Does medical acupuncture hurt?

The needles are far finer than the ones used for injections and most people barely feel them going in. What people notice is a heavy or aching sensation around the point, or a brief twitch when a trigger point is needled, which passes within a few seconds.

What is the difference between medical acupuncture and dry needling?

In practice they are the same technique. Medical acupuncture, sometimes called Western medical acupuncture, needles specific muscles and trigger points for anatomical and physiological reasons. Dry needling is another name for it, so called because nothing is injected.

Medical Acupuncture in Bromley

Q: Is acupuncture safe?

We use sterile, single-use needles disposed of after every treatment. It is not suitable for everyone, so tell your therapist about any medication you take, any bleeding disorder, and if you are or might be pregnant.

Medical acupuncture uses very fine, single-use sterile needles to settle pain, release muscle that has stopped responding to hands-on work, and calm the nervous system around a stubborn injury. It is sometimes called Western medical acupuncture or dry needling, and at SMSM Therapy it is used as part of a wider treatment plan rather than as a therapy on its own.

Most people come to us for acupuncture alongside sports massage or spinal manipulation, particularly when a problem has been grumbling on for weeks and massage alone has only taken it so far.

What we commonly use acupuncture for

Long-standing lower back and neck pain
Tension headaches originating in the neck and shoulders
Myofascial trigger points that keep returning after massage
Shoulder and hip pain that limits range of movement
Calf, hamstring and glute tightness in runners
Sports injuries where muscle guarding is slowing recovery

It is not a cure-all, and we will tell you honestly if we think another approach suits your problem better.

Medical acupuncture, dry needling and traditional acupuncture

These terms cause a lot of confusion, so here is the plain version.

Traditional acupuncture comes from Chinese medicine and works to a system of meridians and points based on that tradition.
Medical acupuncture (also called Western medical acupuncture) uses the same needles but is based on anatomy and physiology — needling specific muscles, trigger points and tissues for a musculoskeletal reason.
Dry needling is, in practice, the same thing as medical acupuncture. It is called dry needling because nothing is injected: the needle itself does the work.

What we offer at SMSM Therapy is medical acupuncture, which you may also see described as dry needling. Dharam holds a qualification in medical acupuncture.

What to expect in a session

Your first appointment starts with an assessment: we take a history, look at how you move, and work out what is actually driving the pain. If acupuncture is appropriate we will explain why, where the needles will go and roughly how it will feel, and you can decline at any point.

Needles are usually left in place for around fifteen to twenty minutes, or used briefly on a trigger point to provoke a twitch response. Most people feel a dull ache or a brief twitch rather than a sharp pain. Afterwards you may feel a little tired, or notice mild soreness for up to 48 hours, which is normal.

Acupuncture is often combined with cupping or hands-on sports massage in the same session, and we will usually give you a couple of exercises to hold the improvement.

Common questions

Does acupuncture hurt?

The needles are far finer than the ones used for injections and most people barely feel them going in. What people do notice is a heavy or aching sensation around the point, or a brief involuntary twitch when a trigger point is needled. It passes within a few seconds.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on the problem and how long you have had it. Some people feel a clear difference after one session; a long-standing issue is more likely to need a short course. We will give you a realistic estimate at the assessment rather than sell you a package up front.

Is it safe?

We use sterile, single-use needles which are disposed of after every treatment. Acupuncture is not suitable for everyone, so tell your therapist about any medication you take, any bleeding disorder, and if you are or might be pregnant.

Book acupuncture in Bromley

Acupuncture sessions start from £40, and combined sports massage and needling sessions from £55. See our full price list.

We are at Carlton Chambers, 5 Station Road, Bromley BR2 0EY, two minutes from Bromley South and Shortlands stations. Call 07896 257328 or book online.