Rider health : acupuncture for back
pain - article in Your Horse, July 2003
"Hugh Macpherson is Research Director at the Foundation for Traditional Chinese
Medicine, York.He says, 'I treat many people who have been
injured falling off a horse. If there is not a fairly immediate and spontaneous
recovery after the fall, acupuncture may be a good option. Acupuncture triggers the
natural self-healing mechanisms in the lower back. The more recent the injury, the
faster acupuncture works. If the accident was within the last month or so, then two
or three acupuncture sessions may be enough for a complete recovery.'
Acupuncturists train full-time for three years.
Cost: Not yet widely available on the NHS, so
expect to pay around £30 per session.
Treatment: An average of two to six sessions.
Finding a Therapist: Members of the British
Acupuncture Council have professional indemnity insurance. Visit: www.acupuncture.org.uk."
