Trigger point acupuncture and traditional acupuncture - what's the difference?

Trigger point acupuncture, sometimes called intra-muscular needling, is commonly practised by western medically trained health professionals such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and some osteopaths and chiropractors, as a small part of their treatments. Traditional acupuncture is typically practised by acupuncturists who have undertaken western medicine training in anatomy, physiology and pathology, but a great deal more training in Chinese medicine. So an acupuncturist's approach to a health problem is from a different perspective.


Acupuncture of trigger points
in the shoulder

However, more and more acupuncturists are also training in trigger point acupuncture as well. I completed a training myself a couple of years ago, and find it an invaluable adjunct to traditional acupuncture. Acupuncturists have always been aware of so called "tender points" when treating musculoskeletal problems, but trigger points are more technical and refer to small areas in a muscle where there is an underlying micro irritation of the nerve pathway supplying that muscle. In response the muscle contracts, placing strain on tendons and muscular spasms. Typically the pain for a particular trigger point will refer along a specific pathway.

When I come across a trigger point and gently insert a needle into it, the sensation is initially unpleasant, followed by massive relief. I have treated injuries of long duration in this way, to the huge relief of the patient! This doesn't just happen to young people playing sports, or taking extreme forms of exercise. I have treated elderly people who have had falls, resulting in no fractures or apparent damage visible on a scan, but causing chronic pain for years. Treating the appropriate trigger point, and then sometimes giving a traditional treatment, has worked wonders. This article describes trigger point acupuncture in a very straightforward way.

More information about acupuncture and my training on my website.