Something that you may have recently started to see more Physiotherapy clinics offer as a part of their treatment, it is another method that some have found extremely helpful in reducing discomfort, tightness and pain. But is dry needling for everyone? Let’s take a deep dive into what dry needling is and its benefits. What is Dry Needling and how does it work?Dry needling is the insertion of fine filament needles into an area of tightness or pain that may be found within muscle or other tissue. The rationale behind this is when the needle breaks the skin, causing an inflammatory response where there is increased blood flow to the area, assisting with the healing process. Dry needling can also cause a nervous system response, by decreasing excitatory signals to a tight band of muscle/knot that will allow the muscle to relax and restore to normal function and decreasing the pain response. Is Dry Needling the same as Acupuncture?Although acupuncture needles are often used to perform dry needling, this is where the similarities stop. Dry needling uses a western medical approach where needles will be inserted into areas of discomfort or tightness to relieve tension and pain. Acupuncture on the other hand originates from traditional Chinese medicine and is based on restoring energy flow to a state of balance (commonly known as Qi) which in turn promotes healing. What are the main benefits of Dry Needling?
Are there any risks with Dry Needling?Dry needling is a safe technique to have performed. As with most forms of treatment there are some precautions that need to be taken into consideration but this would be discussed in depth with your practitioner prior to any treatment taking place. Whilst they may not occur each time someone is needled, it is important to be aware of some of the side effects that may occur as a result of dry needling:
How do we use dry needling in the Clinic?Dry needling can be very effective in helping decrease muscle tightness and pain to allow you to get back to your peak performance! It is a treatment method we will use in combination with other forms of treatment (i.e. soft tissue massage, home exercise programs) rather than using dry needling in isolation. It isn’t something that is used for all clients, but is suggested when we feel it may help speed up the recovery process. Our Physiotherapists will leave the needles inserted for 5-10 minutes which is enough time for increased blood flow to the area and the inflammatory process to begin. Keen to know more? If you have any other questions about dry needling or are interested in trying it yourself, please get in touch with us at My Peak Performance on (02) 9620 4948 and we will book you in for an assessment with one of our Physiotherapists! References
Casey A. Unverzagt, Kathleen Berglund, & J J Thomas. (2015). DRY NEEDLING FOR MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT PAIN: A CLINICAL COMMENTARY. The International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 10(3), 402–418. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26075156/ Dunning, J., Butts, R., Mourad, F., Young, I., Flannagan, S., & Perreault, T. (2014). Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines. Physical Therapy Reviews, 19(4), 252–265. https://doi.org/10.1179/108331913x13844245102034 Eric Gattie, Joshua A. Cleland, & Suzanne J. Snodgrass. (2017). The Effectiveness of Trigger Point Dry Needling for Musculoskeletal Conditions by Physical Therapists: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 47(3), 133–149. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2017.7096 Kalichman, L., & Vulfsons, S. (2010). Dry Needling in the Management of Musculoskeletal Pain. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 23(5), 640–646. https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2010.05.090296 Martín-Pintado-Zugasti, A., Mayoral del Moral, O., Gerwin, R. D., & Fernández-Carnero, J. (2018). Post-needling soreness after myofascial trigger point dry needling: Current status and future research. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 22(4), 941–946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2018.01.003 Comments are closed.
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