Dry Needling is an invasive procedure in which a sterile, single use, fine needle is inserted into your skin and muscle. The needle will be aimed at a myofascial trigger point.
What is a myofascial trigger point?
How does dry needling work?
What are the benefits of dry needling?
Help release myofascial trigger points.
Decrease pain.
Improve muscle function and strength.
Improve joint mobility.
Decrease scar tissue.
What should I expect when being dry needled?
When the needle is inserted into your muscle you might feel a pressure or pinch in that area. Once the needle enters the trigger point you will feel a twitch in your muscle – this is called a localised twitch response and is a good indication that your physiotherapist has hit the targeted trigger point. You will then feel a localised or referred aching pain in the muscle. Your physiotherapist will either leave the needle in or start moving the needle around to try and target a wider surface area of the muscle if they feel that it is indicated. Once complete, they will remove the needle and discard of it.
Is dry needling safe?
Are dry needling and acupuncture the same thing?
No.
Acupuncture is a medical practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine that entails stimulating certain points on the body to balance your body’s energy flow, or ‘Chi’.
Dry needling is a modern technique used by qualified practitioners that follows evidence based guidelines and specific trigger point locations to help alleviate trigger points and muscle tension.
