Acupuncture
Acupuncture Brisbane
Acupuncture may help some people manage pain and move more comfortably as part of physiotherapy care. At PhysioWorks, a physiotherapist can assess your symptoms and determine whether acupuncture, dry needling or another treatment approach is appropriate.
Acupuncture used as part of physiotherapy care.
At PhysioWorks, acupuncture may be available as part of physiotherapy care at selected Brisbane clinics, including Ashgrove, Clayfield and Sandgate. You can also compare the two approaches in our acupuncture and dry needling overview.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves placing fine, sterile needles at selected points on the body. Within musculoskeletal physiotherapy, it may be used to help manage pain and make movement or exercise more comfortable.
Acupuncture has origins in traditional East Asian medicine. Contemporary pain research also examines possible effects on pain modulation and nervous system responses. In physiotherapy care, acupuncture is generally used alongside active treatment such as exercise, education and load management, rather than as a stand-alone treatment.
Needles
Acupuncture uses fine, sterile, single-use needles.
Purpose
It may help some people manage pain and move more comfortably.
Rehabilitation
It is usually used alongside assessment, exercise and other appropriate care.
How may acupuncture help with pain?
Research suggests that acupuncture may influence pain processing and nervous system activity. Some people report less pain or easier movement after treatment. However, the response varies between people and conditions.
For this reason, acupuncture is usually considered an adjunct to a broader rehabilitation plan. Short-term symptom relief may make it easier to move, exercise and progressively return to normal activities.
Acupuncture may be used alongside exercise and other physiotherapy treatment.
Who may benefit from acupuncture?
A physiotherapist may consider acupuncture when pain is affecting movement, exercise, work, sleep or day-to-day activity. It may be considered for selected musculoskeletal presentations, including neck pain, lower back pain, some presentations of sciatica, shoulder pain, some headache presentations and jaw pain.
Whether acupuncture is appropriate depends on your assessment, health history, symptoms and treatment goals. Depending on these findings, your physiotherapist may recommend dry needling or another treatment approach instead.
When might acupuncture be worth discussing?
Pain limits movement
Symptoms are making normal movement or rehabilitation exercises difficult.
Activity is affected
Pain is interfering with work, training, sleep or everyday activities.
An adjunct may help
Short-term symptom relief may help you participate more comfortably in an active rehabilitation plan.
What are the benefits and limitations of acupuncture?
Acupuncture may provide useful pain relief for some people. When symptoms settle, movement or exercise may feel easier. However, not everyone responds, and the size and duration of benefit vary.
Research is more supportive for some chronic pain presentations than others. Therefore, acupuncture should not be presented as a cure or as a replacement for appropriate assessment and rehabilitation. Your physiotherapist can explain the expected role of acupuncture in your treatment plan and review whether it is providing a worthwhile benefit.
Is acupuncture the same as dry needling?
No. Acupuncture and dry needling both use fine needles, but their clinical frameworks differ. Acupuncture includes point-selection approaches derived from traditional practice and is also used in contemporary pain care. Dry needling generally uses Western anatomical reasoning and commonly targets local muscular or myofascial structures.
At PhysioWorks, your physiotherapist can explain whether acupuncture, dry needling or another approach is more appropriate for your presentation.
What are the risks or side effects of acupuncture?
Acupuncture is generally well tolerated when performed by a suitably trained clinician using sterile, single-use needles. Minor side effects may include:
- brief discomfort when a needle is inserted
- minor bleeding or bruising
- temporary soreness
- light-headedness or feeling faint.
Serious complications are uncommon but can occur. Before treatment, tell your physiotherapist about relevant medical conditions, medications, pregnancy, bleeding problems, a tendency to faint or infection or skin problems near the proposed treatment area.
What should you expect during an acupuncture appointment?
Your physiotherapist will first assess your symptoms, goals and relevant medical history. They can then explain whether acupuncture is appropriate, what role it may have in your care and what other treatment options are available.
If you choose to proceed, fine needles are placed at selected points and may remain in place for a period during treatment. Your physiotherapist will monitor your comfort and response.
After treatment, you may notice little immediate change, temporary soreness or easier movement. Your response can then be reviewed to decide whether acupuncture remains useful within your rehabilitation plan.
Where is acupuncture available at PhysioWorks?
Acupuncture may be available as part of physiotherapy care at selected PhysioWorks Brisbane clinics. Current Northside options include PhysioWorks Ashgrove, PhysioWorks Clayfield and PhysioWorks Sandgate.
Availability can vary between physiotherapists. Choose your preferred clinic when booking, or contact reception if you need help finding a physiotherapist who provides acupuncture.
Acupuncture FAQs
Does acupuncture help nerve pain?
Acupuncture may help some people with pain that has a nerve-related component, but nerve symptoms can have different causes. Assessment is important to determine what is contributing to your symptoms and whether acupuncture has an appropriate role in your care.
How many acupuncture sessions will I need?
The number of sessions varies with your condition, goals and response. Your physiotherapist should review whether acupuncture is providing a worthwhile benefit rather than recommending a fixed number of treatments in advance.
Does acupuncture hurt?
You may feel a brief prick as a needle is inserted. Some people also notice heaviness, warmth or a mild ache around a needle. Tell your physiotherapist if you feel uncomfortable during treatment.
Can I exercise after acupuncture?
Most people can continue normal activity after acupuncture. Your physiotherapist may recommend modifying exercise temporarily if you feel sore or if this better suits the condition being treated.
When might acupuncture not be appropriate?
Your physiotherapist may avoid or modify acupuncture when medical risks, infection, needle anxiety or other clinical factors make another approach more appropriate. Tell your clinician about relevant medical conditions and medications before treatment.
What is the difference between acupuncture and dry needling?
Both approaches use fine needles, but the clinical frameworks differ. Acupuncture includes established acupuncture point-selection approaches, while dry needling generally uses Western anatomical reasoning and commonly targets local muscular or myofascial structures. Your physiotherapist can explain which approach may better suit your presentation.
Your response to treatment can be reviewed through movement, symptoms and function.
References
- Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. J Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005.
- Ho L, Lai CNT, Chen H, et al. Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines on Acupuncture for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2025;25(1):322. doi:10.1186/s12906-025-05070-y.
- Fang J, Shi H, Wang W, et al. Durable Effect of Acupuncture for Chronic Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2024;28(9):957-969. doi:10.1007/s11916-024-01267-x.
- DeBar LL, Wellman RD, Justice M, et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(9):e2531348. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.31348.
- Huang CC, Wang LH, Hsu TH, et al. Acupuncture: A Review of the Safety and Adverse Events and the Strategy of Potential Risk Prevention. Am J Chin Med. 2024;52(6):1555-1587. doi:10.1142/S0192415X24500617.
