Western Acupuncture

Heads up! offers acupuncture as an adjunct to our neuro physiotherapy services.

Western acupuncture is the use of needles to influence the body physiologically, alongside the use of drugs and therapies etc, to treat a diagnosed medical condition.

It operates through the nervous system, stimulating nerves in the deep tissues. This causes the release of various chemical substances that can increase the blood flow to the area, improve healing and provide local analgesia.

Acupuncture can be particularly helpful in treating pain. The signals from the stimulated acupuncture needle block the nerves carrying pain information to the spinal cord and brain. They also stimulate the release of the body’s natural pain killers both locally, at the spinal cord and from within the brain itself for a longer lasting pain relief.

Acupuncture, used alongside neuro physiotherapy, can be a truly effective and holistic way of treating neurological conditions. It can provide alternative routes of treating the problems our clients face after a neurological event. For example, increasing sensory stimulation to an arm after a stroke, reducing pain and stiffness in Parkinson’s and reducing muscle tightness and spasms following a brain injury.

Using acupuncture to treat the symptoms of pain, stiffness and muscle spasms can then allow our clients to be more active with a focused hands-on neuro physiotherapy programme and independent exercise.

Acupuncture is available at both our Newdigate and New Victoria Hospital sites.