Acupuncture in Worcester

Acupuncture as part of your care

I use fine needles at selected points in the skin and muscles, with the aim of helping manage pain and muscle tension. Acupuncture may be offered on its own or alongside hands-on physiotherapy and rehabilitation advice.

Needling stimulates nerves in the skin and muscles and may affect the body’s pain-relieving responses. The evidence and likely benefit vary with the condition: some people find it helpful, while others do not. There is no guaranteed result. Read UCLH’s patient information about acupuncture.

Recommendations differ by condition. For example, NICE advises against acupuncture for low back pain, with or without sciatica. We will discuss options appropriate to your assessment rather than assume acupuncture is the right choice.

If you are recovering from an injury, you can also read about my sports injury physiotherapy approach.

Is acupuncture suitable for me?

Before treatment, I review your health history, medicines and symptoms using my full precautions and contraindications screening process. We discuss the possible benefits, risks and alternatives before you decide whether to go ahead.

Please contact me before booking if you are pregnant, receiving cancer treatment, have recently had a stroke or heart failure, or have another significant health concern. Also tell me about blood-thinning medicines, bleeding conditions, metal allergies or a skin infection. These examples are not a complete checklist, and suitability cannot be decided from a website.

Different conditions may mean adapting treatment, postponing it or choosing another approach. Please do not stop any prescribed medicine in preparation for your appointment. NHS Wales explains acupuncture precautions and risks.

What an appointment may involve

1. Talk through your symptoms

   I ask about your current problem, previous injuries, health history and what you hope treatment will help you do. Assessment is tailored to your symptoms rather than simply treating the painful spot.

2. Agree a treatment plan

   If acupuncture is appropriate and you consent, I select the points for your treatment. You can ask questions or ask me to stop at any time.

3. Review and plan ahead

   We discuss how you feel, what to expect afterwards and whether further treatment or a different approach would be useful. In a combined follow-up, I usually allow around 20 minutes for acupuncture within the 60-minute appointment.

Before and after your visit

Wear comfortable clothing that allows access to the area being assessed. Bring shorts if your legs need assessing, and details of any medicines and relevant medical history.

You may feel tired or have some soreness or minor bruising afterwards. I recommend avoiding sport or the gym for the rest of that day and allowing time to rest. Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel sleepy, dizzy or faint; wait until you feel safe to do so.

Serious complications, including infection or a punctured lung, are rare. I will discuss relevant risks with you before treatment. Seek urgent medical help for new chest pain or breathlessness after acupuncture, particularly following treatment around the chest, back or shoulders. See UCLH’s safety and aftercare guidance.

Information to support your decision

Before your appointment, explore our patient guide to acupuncture safety and questions to ask.

I am a member of the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP), alongside my HCPC registration and CSP membership. This page explains my approach and provides general information; it does not replace an individual assessment.