Medical acupuncture / dry needling is a specialised technique that uses very fine, sterile needles to target tight or overactive muscles, often called trigger points. These areas can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced movement, not just locally but sometimes in other parts of the body. By inserting the needle directly into the muscle, medical acupuncture helps to release tension, improve blood flow, and stimulate the body’s natural healing response.

It’s particularly effective for issues such as muscle knots, postural strain, sports injuries, and chronic pain conditions. At Bodysmiths, medical acupuncture is always performed by trained practitioners who assess your individual needs and may combine it with other treatments like osteopathy, remedial massage, or exercise therapy to create a tailored plan for long-term relief and improved function.

Medical acupuncture can help by targeting tight or overactive muscles (trigger points) that are causing pain, stiffness, or reduced movement. By releasing these areas, it can reduce pain, improve mobility, increase blood flow, and support your body’s natural healing process. Many patients also notice improvements in posture, muscle function, and overall movement patterns.

At Bodysmiths, we combine medical acupuncture with other treatments like osteopathy, massage, or exercise therapy to provide long-term relief and better function, rather than just temporary symptom relief.

Medical acupuncture and traditional acupuncture both use fine, sterile needles, but they differ in approach and purpose.

Medical acupuncture is a modern, evidence-based technique that targets specific muscles and trigger points to release tension, reduce pain, and improve movement, making it especially useful for musculoskeletal issues like muscle knots, postural strain, or sports injuries.

Traditional acupuncture, on the other hand, comes from Chinese medicine and focuses on balancing the body’s energy (Qi) by stimulating points along energy pathways, helping with pain, inflammation, and overall wellness. At Bodysmiths, both techniques are performed safely by trained practitioners and are often combined with osteopathy, massage, or exercise therapy to provide effective, personalised care.

At a medical acupuncture appointment, your practitioner will first assess your muscles and movement to identify tight or overactive areas that may be contributing to pain or restricted movement.

The treatment involves inserting very fine, sterile needles into these trigger points to release tension, improve blood flow, and stimulate the body’s natural healing response. You may feel a slight twitch or mild discomfort as the muscle releases, which is normal, and most patients find it tolerable.

After the session, it’s common to feel some temporary soreness or mild fatigue in the treated area, but this usually settles within a day or two. Your practitioner may also provide stretches, exercises, or other therapies to support recovery and enhance long-term results.