'The Needleman' delivers painful remedy for injuries

In a clinic a short stroll from Mong Kok MTR station, Jeremy Ritcey yelps in pain. "That was getting close to a 10," he says, laughing nervously to distract himself from the needles piercing his skin, tearing into his injured muscles. Ritcey, 38, is a competitive trail runner who suffers from the dreaded iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), an injury that puts many runners out of action each year.

Today, he is receiving treatment from Alain Chu, affectionately known in the sports community as the "Needleman" because of the needles he uses with amazing, although painful, effect.

A trained physiotherapist, master of acupuncture and holder of a masters in exercise and sports science, Chu sees a full schedule of patients each week who suffer from sports injuries and chronic musculoskeletal pain. The method he developed over 25 years combines trigger point therapy and the latest research on muscles and fascia (the "myofascial system").

Using needles sourced from China, Chu makes rapid incisions deep into a patient's muscles at points determined after a detailed consultation. It's a labour-intensive process, requiring skill and an intimate knowledge of anatomy.

Sound excruciating? It is. But according to his patients, it's worth it. "He's magic. He healed me when it couldn't be done," says Ritcey, who discovered the treatment in 2009 after a knee injury put him out of action. Facing the Oxfam Trailwalker in two months, Ritcey had to do something drastic, or he would let his team down.

"I was clutching at straws; it [the injury] wasn't getting better," he says. "I was seeing a physio, but it wasn't enough. My first experience [with Chu] - much like every other since - was agonising. But it was immediately rewarding."