Dry needling, also known as intramuscular acupuncture or trigger point pain therapy, is a manual technique that involves the insertion of fine needles into muscle tissue to stimulate the release of endorphins and other chemicals that can help relieve pain. It’s considered an effective treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, neck and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, frozen shoulder, tendonitis, bursitis, and many others.
How does it work?
Dry needling works on the principle that when you tense up certain areas of your body, these “trigger points” become more sensitive than surrounding tissues. When you apply pressure to them with a needle, they will cause a sensation of discomfort. This causes the muscles to relax and allows blood flow to return to normal. By relaxing the muscles around the trigger points, you can improve overall function and mobility in the affected area.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
No. Acupuncture uses very thin needles inserted into specific points along energy meridians throughout the body. Dry needling is performed by inserting blunt-tipped needles into trigger points. Trigger points are usually located at the base of the spine, near joints, along tendons, and in muscles.
What are the benefits of dry needling?
The primary benefit of dry needling is its ability to reduce pain and inflammation without the use of anesthesia. The procedure may be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments such as physical therapy, massage, exercise, medication, or injections. In addition, it has been shown to increase range of motion, decrease local tenderness, and promote healing after injury. Additional benefits are:
Improved Range of Motion
Dry needling works by stimulating muscle fibers through small needle pricks into them. It improves overall mobility for injured muscles. For athletes who are constantly moving from one place to another, having good mobility and having a full range for their joints is critical to their performance. Let’s move onto our next example using the shoulders. If you're a baseball player, having good mobility in your shoulder is essential for successful pitching. To keep from putting too much strain on your shoulders when playing catch, it helps if you take frequent breaks between throws so you don't get tired out. If you experience chronic shoulder pain due to an old sports injury, dry needling may be able to relieve some of that pain and increase your range of motion.
Relieve Pain and Muscle Tightness
Dry needling works because it targets trigger points. Trigger points are small knots of muscle fibers that cause chronic aches and pains. If you're experiencing shoulder or neck pain, then the physical therapist may use acupuncture needles to detect and treat trigger points. Injecting anesthetic into muscle tissue causes the nerves to relax so they don't send signals to the brain telling them there is pain present. If you're experiencing joint stiffness due to injury, these exercises may help improve your range of motion and relieve some of your pain.
Speeds Up Recovery
When you get injured, the most difficult part is usually recovering from the injury itself. Regardless of which injury requires the longest period for healing, everyone wants their body to be fully recovered so they can return to normal activity. Dry needling has been shown to be effective for treating chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as tennis elbow, knee pain, tight muscle, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, Dry Needling Therapy has been shown to speed up recovery time when compared to other treatments such as ice packs, heat wraps, ultrasound, and massage.
What is trigger point dry needling?
Trigger point dry needling is a form of acupuncture that involves the insertion of fine needles into areas where trigger points exist. These trigger points are found in many different parts of the body, including the back, neck, arms, legs, and even face. They are often referred to as “knots” or “trigger points” because they feel like tiny knots in the muscle fiber. When someone experiences pain in any area of the body, it's possible that this person could have a trigger point.
Are there side effects?
There are no known side effects associated with dry needling. There may be minor bruising or bleeding around the site of injection, but this should subside quickly. Some people may experience temporary discomfort after receiving dry needling, but this will decrease over time.
How long does dry needling last?
The length of dry needling treatment depends on how severe the condition being treated is. The more severe the condition, the longer the treatment will last. Most patients will see improvement within 24 hours of receiving dry needling therapy. However, some patients may require multiple sessions to achieve maximum results.
Need further help?
Here at LJ Chiropractic Clinic, we combine and incorporate several modalities such as dry needling therapy to achieve the best result for your condition. LJ Chiropractic offers tailored treatment plans to accommodate the varied needs of our patients. As a friendly female chiropractor with years of experience under her belt, Li Jen assists many different individuals in Caringbah (Sutherland Shire) and Kensington (Eastern Suburbs) and the surrounding areas eg Maroubra, Kingsford, Randwick, Eastgardens, Rosebery, Mascot, Bondi, Waverly, Clovelly. From lower back pain (sciatica), neck pain or headaches migraine, we treat patients from all walks of life including pregnancy care for pelvic and hip pain, elderly patients or athletes to enhance their sports performance. LJ Chiropractic can develop a treatment course to suit you.
