Have you considered dry needling? Some people consider it until they hear that it is an invasive therapeutic practice. What happens is there are different types of needles that are inserted into the skin and muscles at a myofascial trigger point, or knot . Once inserted, the needles are manipulated in and out for therapeutic treatment through mechanical and biomechanical responses. Some feel that the procedure is well worth the invasiveness to feel relief from the pain.
Patients of dry needling seek treatment for a variety of musculoskeletal issues. People with general muscle tightness and soreness could potentially benefit from dry needling. Some common reasons for treatment include:
- Neck, shoulder, and back pain
- Arm pain including carpal tunnel, and tendonitis
- Frequent headaches
- Lower body pain including sciatica, hamstring issues, muscle spasms
What is the difference between acupuncture and dry needling?
Starting with acupuncture, this is a procedure which uses predefined entry points, on the contrary dry needling the needles are placed in muscle knots or trigger points. Common places to find some of these knots or trigger points are; along your neck, around your shoulder blades, mid and lower back, and the buttocks. The knot will in most cases be easily identifiable as a protruding point that feels like a nodule in the muscle.
Benefits
Some of the main reasons individuals seek out dry needling therapy include
- Pain and tension reduction from headaches, neck/back pain, tendonitis, sciatica, and fibromyalgia
- Increased range of motion
- Reduce the requirement of pain medication
- Restoration of original muscle function
The goal of dry needling is to achieve a local twitch response to relieve muscle tension and pain. Generally it is not the insertion of the needle that causes discomfort, but the twitch response can cause aching or cramping sensations when inserted into the sensitive knot or trigger point.
Side Effects
Depends on the person, and always consult your physician before having any form of treatment. Some may experience side effects such as:
- Varying levels of muscle soreness
- Skin bruising
- Tiredness
There have been two recent studies done including hundreds of patients, 10% reported mild side effects and no major adverse events were recorded.
Dry Needling At Home
DO NOT try this at home! There are courses available like: Kinetacore’s Physical Therapy Education courses that will train you properly.
