What is Dry Needling?
Dry Needling is the insertion of a tiny needle into a painful muscle knot in the body, with the aim to reduce pain. There is no medication on the needle, hence it is referred to as ‘Dry.’
Is Dry Needling similar to acupuncture?
There are many similarities and differences between dry needling and acupuncture. Dry needling is based on the principles of Western medicine using the anatomy of the body especially the muscles as its corner stone. Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine using principles such as, energy flow as its direction for treatment. Chartered Physiotherapists who are trained in these types of treatment can use them under their professional scope of practice.
How does dry needling work?
Research has shown that dry needling releases the chemicals which cause pain from the knotted muscle fibres. A little twitch occurs during the treatment which is the first step in breaking the pain cycle.
What type of problems can be treated with dry needling?
Dry needling can be used for a variety of musculoskeletal problems, where muscles are thought to be a primary contributing factor to the symptoms.
Conditions include, neck, back and shoulder pain, arm pain (tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, golfers elbow) Jaw pain, buttock pain and leg pain (sciatica, hamstrings strains calf tightness/spasm) The treatment of muscles has the greatest effect on reducing pain mechanisms in the nervous system.
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