- 023-8218-2416
- info@physio-soton.co.uk
- 297 High Street, Eastleigh, SO50 5NB
- Opening hours: Mon - Fri 10:00 - 20:00, Sat 10:00-15:00
Stubborn knots that massage alone can’t shift, chronic aches that keep returning, and tension that’s lived in your shoulders for months needling is often the treatment that finally moves them. At Physio Soton in Eastleigh, we offer dry needling, traditional acupuncture and electroacupuncture, at £50 a session, serving patients across Southampton, Chandler’s Ford and Hampshire. Book online or call 023 8218 2416; no referral needed.
Dry needling involves inserting thin needles (similar to acupuncture needles) into trigger points, the tight, tender bands of muscle you can feel under the skin, to stimulate a healing response. It’s based on Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles: releasing muscle tension, improving blood flow, and switching off the trigger point at its source. It’s called “dry” because nothing is injected; no medication is involved, which also makes it entirely different from an ultrasound-guided injection.
Needles reach depths that thumbs and elbows simply can’t, which is why dry needling often succeeds where repeated massage has only helped temporarily.
Most people feel a brief prick as the needle passes the skin, then sometimes a deep ache or a muscle twitch when the trigger point releases; that twitch is the point of the treatment, and it passes in seconds. Some soreness for a day or so afterwards is normal, similar to post-exercise muscle ache. It’s considerably less uncomfortable than most people expect.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. By stimulating these points, acupuncture is believed to promote healing and alleviate various physical and mental conditions, including pain, stress, and nausea.
From a Western perspective, acupuncture may work by stimulating nerves, muscles, and connective tissue, leading to changes in pain perception and the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body.
Electroacupuncture passes a small, adjustable electric current between pairs of acupuncture needles, providing continuous stimulation to the treatment points. It’s thought to enhance traditional acupuncture’s effects, promoting endorphin release, stimulating nerve fibres, and supporting the body’s natural healing processes, and is used for pain management, musculoskeletal problems and some neurological conditions. Few clinics in the Southampton area offer it.
Acupuncture is one of the few complementary therapies with mainstream clinical backing: the NICE guideline on chronic primary pain (NG193) recommends considering a course of acupuncture or dry needling for chronic primary pain, and NICE also supports acupuncture for preventing migraine and tension-type headaches. As with everything at our clinic, we’ll tell you honestly whether needling is likely to help your particular problem and suggest something else if it isn’t.
| Dry Needling | Acupuncture | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Western anatomy & neurophysiology | Traditional Chinese medicine, restoring the flow of qi along meridians |
| Target | Trigger points and tight muscle bands | Specific acupuncture points across the body |
| Goal | Release muscle tension, improve blood flow, deactivate trigger points | Rebalance, ease pain, reduce stress, and support wellbeing |
| Best For | A specific knot, muscle spasm, or muscular pain you can point to | Chronic pain, stress, headaches, and general persistent aches |
Needling and massage work better together than either alone: massage warms and releases the broader muscle, needling deactivates the stubborn trigger points within it. Because Riaan is qualified in both, a single visit can combine acupuncture with sports or deep tissue massage: one appointment, one therapist, both tools. If you’ve had massages that helped for a week and then faded, this combination is usually the answer.
Sessions cost £50, booked directly online with no GP referral. If you’d like to combine needling with massage in one visit, mention it when booking and we’ll confirm the session length and price for the combined appointment.
Riaan is a hugely talented and experienced massage and acupuncture therapist – patients are consistently full of praise for his skill and professionalism. He specialises in sports, deep tissue and relaxation massage alongside acupuncture and dry needling, and helps with stubborn aches and pains of the back, neck, arms and legs. He also works as a personal trainer, so his advice on exercise and training comes from practical knowledge, not a leaflet.
Needling is very safe in trained hands. All needles are sterile, single-use and disposed of after your session. Typical after-effects are mild: a day or so of muscle soreness, occasionally a small bruise at a needle site, and some people feel pleasantly drowsy or relaxed afterwards, worth knowing if you’re driving straight after.
Tell your therapist before treatment if you’re pregnant, take blood-thinning medication, or have a needle phobia (it’s more manageable than most people fear, and he’ll pace the session accordingly).
It depends on how long the problem has existed. Recent muscular issues often improve within 1–3 sessions; chronic, long-standing pain typically needs a course of 4–6, in line with NICE’s recommendation of a course of treatment. You’ll notice within the first couple of sessions whether needling is working for you, and we’ll say so honestly if it isn’t.
Yes, it’s one of the most effective combinations we offer, and with Riaan qualified in both, it happens within a single appointment. Mention the combination when you book.
Some private insurers cover acupuncture, particularly when it’s part of treatment for a diagnosed musculoskeletal condition. Check your policy terms. We can provide receipts for claims.
Eat something light beforehand (needling on an empty stomach can make some people lightheaded), wear loose clothing that gives access to the treatment area, and allow yourself a calm half hour afterwards rather than rushing straight to the gym.
If the same knot keeps coming back no matter how much you stretch and massage it, it’s time to treat it at the source. £50 a session at our Eastleigh physiotherapy clinic, serving Southampton, Chandler’s Ford, Winchester and Hampshire.
023 8218 2416 | Book online (existing PowerDiary button) | Physio Soton, 297 High Street, Eastleigh | Mon–Fri 10 am–8 pm, Sat 10 am–3 pm
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297 High Street, Eastleigh, SO50 5NB