WHAT IS DRY NEEDLING?
Dry Needling is a commonly used, effective and efficient technique used by many manual therapists for treatment of muscular pain. Muscles often have trigger points in them, which are small, taut bands of muscle fibres within a muscle and can present as sore, tender spots. They are more commonly known as ‘knots’ and it is these trigger points which are the focus of dry needling treatment.
Dry Needling involves the use of a very fine, sterile, single use needle which is inserted directly into the trigger points in an effort to release them and improve functionality within the muscle. This release can help decrease pain levels and improve the ability of the muscle to contract and release, therefore improving the function of surrounding joints, nerves and vessels.
It is called ‘dry’ needling as it doesn’t inject any wet substances into the body.
Before your osteopath proceeds with dry needling, they will undertake a thorough assessment to ensure that it is an appropriate treatment course for you, including consideration of your past and current medical history such as blood disorders, epilepsy, diabetes, allergies and even your reaction to needles. Dry needling is just one of multiple treatment techniques your osteopath may use during your treatment and they will always discuss your preference prior to proceeding.
HOW DOES DRY NEEDLING WORK?
Dry needling works on several layers of the body’s system in the following ways:
Causes a mini inflammatory response that results in vasodilation, or increased blood flow to an area, encouraging the body’s natural healing process.
Releases the muscle, reducing pain and improving function
Releases natural pain relieving hormones and our feel good hormones, helping reduce reliance on pain relief medication.
Alters the sensory feedback back to your brain which can help change the way your brain perceives pain or sensations from an area.
HOW IS DRY NEEDLING DIFFERENT FROM ACUPUNCTURE?
Dry needling is often confused with the Traditional Chinese Medicine technique (TCM) of acupuncture because the same fine needles are used in both however the two are very different.
Acupuncture is based on esoteric principles that are found in Chinese medicine models, where the individual is diagnosed due to imbalances in energy systems found within the body, regardless of whether it is musculoskeletal or systemic in origin. Acupuncture, generally speaking, seeks to address this flow of energy around the body and vital organs by inserting needles in established meridian points on the body. Once these needles are inserted they are often left in the body for some time during the treatment.
Dry needling on the other hand was adopted many centuries later by Western medicine and uses physiological and scientific principles to guide diagnosis and treatment protocol in the management of musculoskeletal conditions. Dry needling is more directly concerned with treating specific neuromuscular problems that are causing pain or hindering mobility. In dry needling, the needles are slowly inserted into the body, gently manipulated, and then removed after a very short period, a process which may be repeated several times.
WHAT DOES DRY NEEDLING FEEL LIKE?
Needling does not have to be painful to have a response. The needles used in dry needling are very fine and everyone’s perception of the needling sensation is different. Some people may feel a slight sensation or pinging feeling. Others report feeling quite relaxed. Some common descriptive terms used are:
Muscle twitching
Slight prick or dull ache
Pulsating sensation
No sensation at all.
When patients do experience symptoms they typically subside very quickly.
After a dry needling session, it may be that patients feel a little tired, as after a rigorous exercise session, but there are no lingering effects and most people are able to continue with their day (including playing sports) as normal.