Biomechanical Acupuncture
This is a specialist acupuncture approach for the treatment of back pain.
Biomechanical Acupuncture is a unique muscular skeletal acupuncture approach that offers a real solution to patients whose painful conditions have not responded to injections, other forms of acupuncture,
physiotherapy, osteopathy or chiropractic treatment.
Biomechanical Acupuncture focuses on finding and treating both individual Tension Points as well as
Tension Point Networks within muscular skeletal functional units within the muscular skeletal system.
Biomechanical Acupuncture employs a gentle and even needle technique called Precise Density Needling (PDN) in order to minimise trauma both for the patient as well as the targeted soft tissues and to maximise the precision of the needle insertion. Precise Density Needling (PDN) enables the practitioner to treat complex tension point networks and place the needle tip precisely into the core of a
Tension Point, where it unfolds its therapeutic action:
The needle tip relaxes and weakens the tension point from inside the Tension Point.
Biomechanical Acupuncture:
- Eases pain and helps to improve strength by improving tissue quality
- Treats pain and weakness from the exact point of origin
Additional information, please click to expand for more details:
-
Origin and nature of Tension Points
A tension point is a point on muscular skeletal soft tissue (muscle, tendon or ligament tissue), which has lost its elasticity and is in a constant state of tension. Tension points cause pain or numbness, weaken the affected tissue and lead to inhibited mobility. Tension Points form for a variety of reasons.
Tensions Points usually form a structural network, which further consolidates individual points and increases the negative impact on the biomechanics of the affected body part, reducing the mobility further by acting as multiple soft tissue locking mechanism.
-
Local pathologies caused by Tension Points
The spasm at the heart of a Tension Point has a weakening effect and can be painful by itself. It diminishes the blood, oxygen and nutrient supply of the affected point, which further solidifies the core of the blockage. Tension Points exert pressure on surrounding tissues like blood and lymph vessels, nerves and other muscle fibres, which can cause local or referred pain, numbness or tingling sensations.
-
Pathologies of the biomechanical functions of our skeletal system
The nature of tension points and the fact that they form a self- enhancing structural network shortens the affected muscle or tendon fibres. This shortening effect exerts an unnatural pulling force on attached vertebrae or joints causing a painful compression. In effect one can speak of a locking mechanism, which leads to loss of strength and mobility in the affected functional unit.
-
Effect on the autonomic nervous system and inner organs
Tension points have the potential to disturb the balance of the autonomic nervous system. Tension points next to the spine and situated above nerve roots can influence organ functions through pressure.
-
Extensive diagnostic palpation
Palpation (diagnosis by touch) of tension points is very important and takes a great deal of time in the framework of the treatment as it is vital for the precise acupuncture of individual tension points. Tension Points have a different palpation appearance on ligament, tendon or fascia tissue. In contrast to classical acupuncture points with their location determined by anatomical proportions on meridian lines, the precise location of tension points always needs to be palpated on an individual basis.
-
Precise Density Needling (PDN) – Gentle Needle Insertion
As systemic tension point acupuncture deals with traumatised tissue it is essential to employ a gentle, even needle technique. Dynamic needle techniques as known from dry needling are not employed. The gentle, even needle technique (PDN) minimises the trauma to the treated point and maximises the precision of the needle insertions. It enables the practitioner to treat complex tension point structures. Once all needles are inserted they are left in the body undisturbed for about 20-30 minutes.
-
Therapeutic action of needles on individual tension points
The great strength of the needle insertion is the fact that the needle tip is placed in the core of a tension point and acts from within the blockage. A correctly placed needle initialises a gentle myofascial release in the affected point, which weakens the spasm and eases the mechanical pressure it exerts.
-
Therapeutic action of the needles on biomechanical functions of the skeletal system
The myofascial release in the treated points, combined with the addressing of the entire tension point network within a treatment, counteract the shortening of muscle and tendon fibres. The unnatural pulling forces acting on joints and vertebrae ease. The vicious circle characterised by pain or numbness, spasms, lack of strength and inhibited mobility is broken.
- Average treatment duration: 60 minutes
- Acute problems 2-4 treatments
- Chronic problems 4-8 treatments