Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people come in, whether it built up slowly from sitting and lifting or flared suddenly after a movement. It often shows up as a deep ache, a band of tightness across the low back, or a catch that makes bending and straightening uncomfortable.

In most cases I see, the low back isn't really the source. The tightness usually starts in the hips and glutes, and when the pelvis loses its stability the low back ends up overworking to compensate, so that's where the tension gets felt. Once the needles are in, I'll often see the muscle twitch or the tone start to soften, and people tend to feel either an immediate release or a mild ache that settles soon after.

Treatment would aim to release the surrounding muscle tension, support circulation to the area, and settle the guarding that keeps the back braced. It is commonly used to assist in the management of ongoing or recurring lower back pain.

Neck pain often builds quietly from desk work, screen time and poor sleep positions, until turning the head or sitting through a workday becomes uncomfortable. It commonly travels into the upper shoulders and the base of the skull, and can bring on tension headaches as well.

The pattern I see most often is tension in the suboccipitals at the base of the skull, or in the muscles down the side of the neck, usually built up from screen time and posture at a laptop or phone. Once treatment starts, I'll commonly notice the muscle twitch and the tone reduce, with the area feeling softer as the needles settle in.

Treatment would aim to ease the tight muscles through the neck and support easier, less painful movement. It is commonly used to assist in the management of both recent strain and longer-standing neck tension.

Sciatica and piriformis syndrome both bring pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the leg, sometimes with tightness, numbness or a pulling sensation along the way. Sitting, standing or walking for long can become uncomfortable, and it often behaves differently from ordinary low back pain.

Early on I want to sense where the nerve pain is coming from, whether it's the low back or the glutes, and I'll ask whether any scans have been done. For sciatica I tend to focus the needling closer to the spine, into the small stabilising muscles that run alongside it (the multifidus), to ease the tension that can affect how the joints sit. For piriformis syndrome the focus shifts more to the piriformis muscle in the buttock, though I'll still check whether the low back has started compensating, as it often has by the time someone comes in.

Treatment would aim to settle the muscle tension along the path of the pain and calm the nerve irritation that keeps it travelling. It is commonly used to assist in the management of the discomfort and tightness associated with sciatica and piriformis syndrome.

Headaches vary a great deal, from tension-type tightness across the head and neck to migraines with their own patterns and triggers. Many people notice their headaches are tied to stress, poor sleep or neck tension that has been building for weeks.

The patterns I see most are tension through the neck and suboccipitals, often alongside stress. I usually start by releasing the neck tension first, since that's frequently the more immediate driver, and then work with the stress sensitivity from there.

Acupuncture is commonly used to assist in the management of how often headaches occur and how intense they feel, working with the muscular and nervous system factors involved. Where neck tension is part of the picture, treating that alongside is often part of the plan.

Frozen shoulder tends to come on gradually, with the shoulder growing stiffer and more painful until reaching overhead or behind the back becomes difficult. It often disturbs sleep and can linger for a long time, which is part of why people look for support with it.

In my experience, what people call frozen shoulder often isn't true adhesive capsulitis. Working through the muscles of the pectoral girdle and rotator cuff can begin to restore movement, and I'd assess early on whether it's genuine capsulitis or a shoulder that has tightened and guarded. The first sign of change is usually after treatment, when the shoulder tends to move a little more freely.

Treatment would aim to ease the pain around the joint and support movement as the shoulder works through its stages. It is commonly used to assist in the management of the pain and stiffness that come with frozen shoulder.

Joint pain can affect areas like the knees, hips or wrists, whether from overuse, stiffness, or wear that builds over time. It often feels worse with certain movements or first thing in the morning, and can quietly limit what you feel able to do day to day.

Acupuncture may be used to help manage this kind of general joint pain and stiffness, with the aim of supporting more comfortable movement. It is commonly used to assist in the management of ongoing joint discomfort, rather than as a fix for the underlying joint changes themselves.