Traditional acupuncture originates as a fundamental  discipline of traditional chinese medicine (TCM)  and is thought to date back to the second or third century BC.  TCM has a unique concept of disease treatment based on hypothesizing the harmony on Qi, an energy, through the meridians to obtain health.  Dry needling or Western medical acupuncture is not practised upon this basis and is used as a conventional therapeutic application, evidence-based upon the current understanding of human anatomy and physiology.

As part of the treatment provided at Osgo clinic, it may be suggested to include the use of medical acupuncture, although it is entirely optional, not everyone welcomes the idea of needles.  It is a particularly useful technique when a patient is experiencing local or referred pain from myofascial trigger points.  Myofascial trigger points (MTP's)  are areas within the muscle fibres which may present as palpable nodules. They can cause regional musculoskeletal pain.  MTP's have been associated with many conditions including joint dysfunction, headaches, whiplash associated spinal dysfunction and even nocturnal cramps.  MTP's may occur following acute muscle injury or chronic, repetitive overloading such as is often found in work or activity related postural abnormalities.

There are numerous hypotheses explaining the biological mechanisms of pain relief seen following the use of acupuncture and without getting too scientific it basically creates a neural dampening which in turn will reduce pain.  

Your practitioner may insert one or more needles as appropriate,  The needles are extremely fine and rarely noticeable on insertion, they come in separate sterilised packages and are disposed of following use.