Acupuncture awareness week is 7th to 13th March

Grin and Bear it’ Brits need to pin point their pain 

We’re famously a nation that doesn’t like to make a fuss but new statistics from the British Acupuncture Council reveal that when it comes to pain over half of the UK nearly half of Brits (44%) just grin and bear it which could impact long term health and wellbeing.

According to the report released today to mark Acupuncture Awareness Week (7th-13th March 2016), almost three in ten Brits (29%) exercise more now than they did ten years ago but more than half (52%) say they’ve been injured during sport in the past and one in three (30%) claim to have never recovered from their injuries.

To overcome a sporting injury, almost three in five people (56%) say they take oral painkillers, and nearly a third (32%) turn to ice and heat packs, compared to just 11% who opt for traditional acupuncture.

 Harry Sweetman, acupuncturist at the Physio Therapy Centre and a qualified member of the British Acupuncture Council comments: ‘Many people put up with pain when they don’t need to. Often discomfort from musculoskeletal problems can be alleviated with the correct diagnosis and treatment. Traditional acupuncture is an evidence based therapy that has been shown to help reduce pain and swelling, increase blood flow to promote recovery and help restore movement at the site of injury.’

 The report of 2,000 UK adults revealed nearly three quarters of people (73%) have never tried traditional acupuncture with three in ten Brits (30%) admitting they’re unaware of how the therapy could help them.

 Harry continues: ‘In my experience, a lot of patients either ignore their injury or opt for painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs without ever being physically examined. Painkillers often mask the problem and don’t always address any potential underlying issues. Traditional acupuncture can help to identify the root cause of a problem, improving a patient’s understanding and management of symptoms for a more positive long-term outcome.’

 Based on ancient principles which go back nearly two thousand years, traditional acupuncture involves placing extremely fine, sterile needles painlessly at specific points on the body to trigger a healing response and restore balance.

‘Traditional acupuncture is one of the oldest documented systems of medicine in history based on the meridian system and the movement of energy around the body, says Harry. ‘It is believed that pain or illness can occur if the flow of energy gets blocked or disrupted. Traditional acupuncture improves the body’s natural healing process by stimulating specific points on the body to regulate the flow of energy once again.’

Despite traditional acupuncture’s widely recognised health benefits, statistics also show that more than a fifth (21%) of people say they are too scared to try it because of the needles.

Harry continues: ‘Most people who attend traditional acupuncture for the first time are a little nervous even if they don’t say so. I make sure they understand the acupuncture treatment process thoroughly, including how it’s going to feel and that the needles are single-use, sterile and extremely fine. Acupuncture needles are also nothing like hypodermic needles used for taking blood so I tend to show them what they look like to put their mind at rest. To guarantee a high standard of safety and care, it’s important to find a fully qualified and insured acupuncturist registered with the British Acupuncture Council.’

 Here are Harry Sweetman’s top tips for managing musculoskeletal pain

 1. Seek professional advice and get a diagnosis and treatment early.

 2. Make sure you understand, in conjunction with your therapist, what your problem is and how best to treat or manage it.

 3. Follow your rehabilitation plan carefully and consult with your therapist if you are unsure of what you are doing.