Why I Travelled to Denmark to Train in Motor Point Acupuncture

One of the things I love most about acupuncture is that the learning never really ends.

My curiosity about the human body has always driven me, from my first career in science and engineering to my work today as an acupuncturist and naturopath. I have always been fascinated by understanding not only what happens in the body, but why.

This curiosity took me to Denmark to train in advanced motor point acupuncture with Dr Anthony Lombardi, a world-renowned teacher in contemporary acupuncture techniques.

This training brought together two areas that fascinate me: the wisdom of traditional acupuncture and the modern understanding of anatomy, muscles, fascia and the nervous system.

Motor points are specific areas where the nervous system communicates with muscles.

Our muscles are constantly receiving messages from the nervous system telling them when to contract, relax and coordinate movement.

When this communication is not working as efficiently as it could, it may contribute to changes in muscle function, tension, weakness, restricted movement and pain patterns.

Sometimes pain is felt directly in the muscle itself, but other times symptoms can be more complex, involving irritation around nerves, referred pain patterns, posture, movement habits or changes in how the nervous system is responding.

Motor point acupuncture uses precise anatomical locations with the aim of influencing this communication between nerves and muscles. This approach is often combined with electroacupuncture, where a gentle electrical stimulation is applied to selected points to further engage the neuromuscular system.

What I love about this style of acupuncture is that it brings together two worlds: the traditional understanding of the body used in Chinese medicine and our modern understanding of anatomy and physiology.

My approach has never been about choosing one over the other. I believe they can complement each other beautifully.

Traditional acupuncture allows us to look at the whole person, including areas such as stress, sleep, energy and overall balance, while modern approaches such as motor point acupuncture help us understand the structures involved in pain, movement and function.

One of the biggest lessons from studying the body is that pain is rarely just about one isolated area.

Someone may come in with neck pain, shoulder tension, back pain or nerve-like symptoms such as tingling or discomfort, but the body works as a connected system.

Muscles, joints, fascia, nerves, movement patterns, stress and lifestyle can all influence how we experience pain.

This is why my treatments often combine different approaches, including traditional acupuncture, motor point acupuncture, electroacupuncture and soft tissue techniques.

The aim is always to understand the individual person in front of me, rather than simply treating the area that hurts.

Travelling to train with passionate teachers around the world continues to remind me why I love this work.

Every new technique adds another layer of understanding and another way to tailor treatments to each person.

For me, acupuncture is a beautiful combination of ancient wisdom, modern science and lifelong learning, and that curiosity is what keeps me passionate about helping people understand and reconnect with their bodies.

If you are experiencing ongoing pain, muscle tension or discomfort, you can learn more about my approach to acupuncture for pain below.