Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture
Whole-body balance restoration. Lasting relief.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture is one of the world's oldest and most widely practised forms of medicine, with a clinical history spanning more than 2,500 years. At Mountain Sports Therapy, Elliot offers TCM Acupuncture as a standalone treatment or as a powerful complement to Sports Therapy treatments, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and other holistic modalities - providing a genuinely integrative approach to pain management and recovery.
Unlike Western dry needling - which targets specific trigger points in isolation - Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture takes a whole-person approach. Rather than simply addressing where you feel pain, it considers the wider physical, lifestyle, emotional, and systemic factors that may be contributing to your condition. This broader perspective is what makes TCM Acupuncture so effective for complex, long-standing, or multifactorial presentations that haven't responded well to purely symptom-focused treatment.
How does TCM Acupuncture work?
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body's vital energy - known as Qi (pronounced 'chee') - flows through a network of pathways called meridians. When this flow becomes disrupted, blocked, or imbalanced it can result in pain, dysfunction and illness. Acupuncture works by inserting very fine, sterile needles at specific points along these meridians to restore the natural flow of energy and bring the body back into balance.
From a modern physiological perspective, acupuncture is understood to stimulate the nervous system, promote the release of endorphins and other natural pain-relieving chemicals, improve local circulation, reduce inflammation, and encourage the body's natural healing mechanisms. These two frameworks - ancient and modern - are not in conflict; they describe the same therapeutic effects through different lenses, and the clinical evidence for acupuncture's effectiveness continues to grow.
What conditions can TCM Acupuncture help with?
TCM Acupuncture has a broad scope of application. At Mountain Sports Therapy, it is used alongside musculoskeletal care for:
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Acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain - back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee, and joint conditions
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Headaches and migraines
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Sciatica and nerve-related pain
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Tendinopathy and overuse injuries
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Stress-related muscular tension and anxiety
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Fatigue and poor sleep quality
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Digestive discomfort — including IBS and bloating
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Hormonal imbalance and menstrual conditions
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Post-injury and post-surgical recovery
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Conditions that have plateaued with conventional treatment alone
This list is by no means exhaustive. TCM Acupuncture is a holistic system of medicine that can support wellbeing on multiple levels simultaneously - physical, emotional, and systemic. If you are unsure whether it may be suitable for your condition, please get in touch and we will be happy to discuss your circumstances to advise you appropriately.
What does Acupuncture feel like?
Acupuncture needles are extremely fine - far thinner than a hypodermic needle - and most clients are surprised by how little discomfort is involved. You may feel a brief sensation as each needle is inserted, often described as a small tingling, dull ache, or warmth at the point. This sensation is known in Chinese medicine as 'de qi' and indicates that the needle has connected with the meridian - it is a positive sign that the treatment is working.
Once the needles are in place, most clients experience a deep sense of relaxation. It is common to feel warmth, heaviness, or a pleasant floating sensation during treatment. Many clients fall asleep on the couch. Sessions involving acupuncture are often among the most deeply restorative experiences clients report having had.
How is TCM Acupuncture different from dry needling?
This is one of the most common questions we receive. Both techniques use acupuncture needles, but they are fundamentally different in philosophy and application. Dry needling is a Western technique that focuses specifically on releasing trigger points which are points of dysfunction within muscles. It is effective for certain musculoskeletal presentations but works only at the site of pain.
TCM Acupuncture takes a whole-body view. Points may be needled far from the site of pain - a headache may be treated via points on the hands or feet, for example - because the meridian system connects the entire body. This broader approach means TCM Acupuncture can address systemic and lifestyle factors that dry needling cannot, making it a significantly more versatile therapeutic tool, particularly for complex or chronic presentations.
How many sessions will I need?
This depends on the nature of your condition and how long it has been affecting you. Acute conditions may respond very well to one to three sessions, while chronic or complex presentations typically require a course of four to six sessions to achieve lasting change. Elliot will always discuss a realistic treatment plan with you following your initial assessment and will monitor your progress at each session, adjusting the approach as needed.
Many clients who come initially for a specific pain complaint continue with maintenance acupuncture sessions - typically monthly - to support their overall health and prevent conditions from returning. This is particularly common among clients managing stress, fatigue, or recurring musculoskeletal issues.
If you have any questions about whether Traditional Chines Medicine Acupuncture is right for addressing your condition, please get in touch via the contact details noted below.
We are happy to discuss your individual situation before you book.
Before we utilise the needles for any acupuncture treatments to compliment your recovery journey, we will need you to read and sign our TCM Acupuncture Information and Consent Form which can be found here.