How Does Acupuncture Help with Persistent Pain Relief?
- Acupuncture works by inserting fine needles (a little thicker than a human hair) into specific points to stimulate the nervous system, triggering the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals and improving blood flow to the treated area.
- For persistent pain, it's most effective as part of a wider treatment plan alongside physiotherapy and exercise, rather than as a standalone fix.
- It's commonly used for conditions like persistent back or neck pain, tendon injuries, and muscle tension, with most people needing a short course of sessions to notice a meaningful difference.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment that involves inserting very fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body.(1) The needles are typically left in place for a short period, and most people describe the sensation as a mild ache or tingling rather than sharp pain.
How Does Acupuncture Help Relieve Pain?
Acupuncture works through a few different mechanisms, particularly relevant to managing longstanding pain:
- Stimulating the nervous system, which can trigger the release of the body's natural pain-relieving chemicals, including endorphins (2)
- Improving local blood flow, supporting tissue healing and reducing muscle tension
- Reducing muscle tightness and spasm, particularly in areas of longstanding tension
- Calming overactive nerve signalling, which can be a contributing factor in some forms of persistent pain
For persistent pain in particular, where the nervous system can become more sensitised over time, this calming effect on nerve signalling is often just as relevant as the direct effect on the treated tissue.
What Types of Persistent Pain Can Acupuncture Help With?
Acupuncture is commonly used alongside physiotherapy for a range of persistent musculoskeletal conditions, including:
- Back pain and neck pain
- Ongoing tendon injuries, such as tennis elbow or Achilles tendinopathy
- Persistent muscle tension and tightness
- Shoulder and hip pain
- Widespread pain (such as in fibromyalgia) (3)
- Migraines (4)
It's particularly useful for conditions where muscle tension or nerve sensitivity is a significant part of the pain picture, rather than purely structural issues.
Is Acupuncture Used on Its Own, or with Other Treatments?
Acupuncture tends to be most effective when it's part of a broader treatment plan rather than used in isolation. On its own, it can help manage pain and reduce muscle tension, but it doesn't address underlying issues like weakness, poor movement patterns, or reduced flexibility, which are often contributing to the pain in the first place.
For this reason, it's commonly combined with:
- Physiotherapy, including manual therapy and targeted exercise
- Structured strengthening programmes, to address the root cause of pain
- Movement and posture advice, to reduce ongoing strain on the affected area
Using acupuncture to help manage pain while working on the underlying issue through physiotherapy tends to give more lasting results than either approach used alone.
What Does an Acupuncture Session Involve?
A typical session starts with an assessment of your symptoms and the area to be treated. Fine needles are then inserted at specific points, which may be directly at the site of pain or at points elsewhere on the body, depending on your condition. The needles usually remain in place for around 10–20 minutes.
Most people find the sensation mild and tolerable, sometimes described as a dull ache or slight tingling once the needle is in place. Some people feel immediate relief after a session, while for others, the benefits build gradually over a short course of treatment.
How Many Acupuncture Sessions Are Needed for Persistent Pain?
This varies depending on the condition and how long it's been present, but a short course of several sessions, often weekly, is generally needed to assess how well someone responds. Longstanding pain, having built up over a longer period, typically takes a bit more time to settle than acute, short-term pain. (5)
Your physiotherapist will usually reassess your progress after the first few sessions to determine whether to continue, adjust the approach, or combine it with additional treatment.
Get Expert Acupuncture Treatment in Chester
If you're living with pain that hasn't responded well to other treatments, acupuncture combined with a tailored physiotherapy plan could help. At Relive Physiotherapy in Chester, we use acupuncture as part of a wider approach designed around your specific condition and goals.
Living with persistent pain? Book an assessment with Relive Physiotherapy today to find out if acupuncture could be part of your treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most people find it mild and tolerable, often describing a dull ache or slight tingling once the needle is in place, rather than sharp pain.
How does acupuncture help with persistent pain specifically?
It works by stimulating the nervous system to release natural pain-relieving chemicals, improving blood flow, and helping calm overactive nerve signalling, which can be particularly relevant in longer-standing pain.
How many acupuncture sessions will I need?
This depends on your condition, but a short course of several sessions, often weekly, is typically needed to properly assess how well you respond, with your physiotherapist adjusting the plan from there.
Can acupuncture be used instead of physiotherapy?
It's generally more effective when combined with physiotherapy rather than used alone, as acupuncture helps manage pain while physiotherapy addresses the underlying cause, such as weakness or poor movement patterns.
What conditions is acupuncture commonly used for?
It's often used alongside physiotherapy for back and neck pain, ongoing tendon injuries, and persistent muscle tension.
References:
1.https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/herbal-medicines-and-complementary-therapies/
3.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8567806/
4.https://migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/healthcare/treatments/acupuncture/
About the Author:
Mohana Nedunchezian
Lead Physiotherapist, Independent Non-Medical Prescriber and Injection Therapist
Mohana Nedunchezian is a Specialist Physiotherapist at Relive Physiotherapy with over 15 years' experience in Musculoskeletal Medicine. She is a qualified Injection Therapist, an APPI-certified Pilates Physiotherapy Instructor, and trained in Kinesiology taping, Acupuncture, and Bobath techniques.
Mohana holds a Master's degree in Physiotherapy and spent over 10 years as a Specialist Physiotherapist in the NHS before joining Relive Physiotherapy. She has a particular interest in 1:1 Pilates and joint mobilisation techniques, and brings a warm, engaging approach to every session.
Mohana is a member of the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP) and the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine (ACPSEM).
Outside the clinic, Mohana is a full-time mother to two young children and enjoys music and cooking in her free time.
