What is Dry Needling?
Dry Needling is a treatment used by bodyworkers that involves the insertion of a thin needle being pushed through the skin to stimulate the healing process of soft tissues such as, muscle “trigger points”, fascia, tendons and ligaments.
It is called dry needling to differentiate from wet needling, which involves the injection of an agent
Why Dry needling?
Sometimes these trigger points, also known as hard ‘knots’ can cause pain to a larger area of the body, therefore making it hard to perform everyday tasks because the pain can radiate to nearby areas of the body.
Dry needling has fast and instant results. By inserting a needle into the trigger point this creates a positive electrical and chemical communication response that takes place in our nervous system. When there is a ‘twitch’ response, the muscle fibers in that area relax, circulation improves and inflammation is reduced.
This being said the most common desired result of dry needling is pain relief, reduced muscle tension and improved movement.
Does it hurt?
To be honest, it can be uncomfortable, but only when you’re not use to it!
When it comes to needles, most people are afraid of the sensation of the needle piercing the skin, However, this is barely felt because of how fine the needle is.
Dry Needling is not the type of discomfort you might think. The aim is to get a twitch response and this is usually followed by a reflexive relaxation in the muscle (the aim of the game) this twitch response can feel like a cramp or a deep throb but usually dulls within a couple of seconds.
What is the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?
Dry needling is not acupuncture but they do use the same tool; a solid needle filament.
Dry needling is a part of modern western medicine principles and focuses on stimulating a specific trigger point that is leading to pain, discomfort and disability. Acupuncture is a practiced based on traditional Chinese medicine that focuses on the flow of energy around the body and its organs with intent to unblock energy meridians and help create balance with the body.
