Physiotherapy and acupuncture: practice in the UK

Abstract: A descriptive study of practice of chartered physiotherapists using acupuncture in the UK was conducted by postal questionnaire. A 77% response rate was achieved. Two patterns of practice emerged from the study: respondents who had undertaken long acupuncture courses were more likely (p < 0.001) to use pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis and five element theory when compared with those who had not. They placed more importance on traditional diagnosis (p < 0.001) and less on Western diagnosis (p = 0.004). The commonest methods for selecting acupuncture points used by all respondents included a knowledge of meridians, prescriptions and tender points. These different patterns of practice could be used as a basis for treatment schedules to facilitate future research. Acupuncture was rarely used in isolation, most frequently being combined with exercises and manual therapy. Stress, gastrointestinal conditions, gynaecological conditions, headache,migraine and neck pain were among conditions perceived to respond well to acupuncture and are recommended as future areas for research.

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