What Is Dry Needling?
Thin, clean needles are put into myofascial trigger points in muscles during dry needling, a method used to ease pain and stress.
What are Myofascial trigger points you might ask? They are irritated bumps that are found in tight bands of muscle. When muscles are damaged or could be damaged, these tight bands form to make a normal protective response. They can also happen because of repeated low-load stress, standing for long periods of time, or lifting weights that you aren’t used to. Active trigger points can weaken muscles, cause local or shifted pain, and change the way muscles are activated, which can limit their range of motion.
Dry needling helps ease pain in many ways by changing the way nerves and metabolism work. Needling releases different neuroactive mediators that can stop nociceptive pain signals, which changes how people feel pain. The insertion of the needle could hurt nearby tissues, which could affect blood flow and immune reactions that could keep the pain relief going.
Our trained physiotherapist can put needles in a lot of different trigger points during each therapy session.
What Are The Benefits?
Targeting muscular tightness, dry needling is an evidence-based method meant to restore tissue function and enhance tissue healing. Among the principal advantages are:
- Relief from suffering
- Less spasm, tightness, and muscle aches
- Enhanced range of motion encourages good blood flow to the muscle; improved recovery time after an injury; improved relaxation
Dry Needling Vs Acupuncture?
Treatments employing thin monofilament needles—without injecting any substance—are sometimes referred to as “dry needling” or “acupuncture.” Although both treatments seek to enhance physical well-being by means of thin needles placed into the skin, there are some salient features.
The background of each technique distinguishes dry needling from acupuncture in a major way. Based on the idea that disease is caused by obstructed energy, known as Qi (pronounced “chi,” acupuncture is a type of traditional Chinese medicine. By inserting needles on different points of the body following meridian lines to assist activate energy and restore the flow of Qi, acupuncture stresses holistic treatment. Modern Western medicine using a focus on treating physical dysfunction and pain—with an eye towards myofascial trigger points in muscle—is called dry needling. Targeting joints, tendons, ligaments, bone and scar tissue can also be accomplished with dry needling.
Ready To Try Dry Needling at Active Health Co.?
Josh, our awesome physiotherapist is trained and qualified to provide dry needling treatment here at Active Health Co.
Dry needling, in our opinion, can be a helpful addition to maximise the advantages of other main modalities of treatment including soft tissue massage, manual therapy, stretching and strengthening exercises.
Not everyone is suited for dry needling treatment, please be advised. Among the several medical disorders and diagnosis that are contraindicated for dry needling are pregnancy, heart failure, and recent surgery, among others.
Schedule a Dry Needling session at Active Health Co. today!
