Dry Needling
Helping you come ‘unstuck’ swiftly and safely
Dry needling is excellent for easing pain and mobilising jammed joints, stiff muscles and stubborn tensions throughout the body.
Don’t be deterred by the name—the needles are very fine and don’t cause pain, and if any pain presents it’s generally minimal and is always under your control. Plus, the benefits of dry needling far outweigh any mild discomfort you may or may not experience.
When you think about all the tiny sinews, ligaments, connective cartilages and deeper layer muscles, it makes sense to consider dry needling because sometimes topical manual therapies won’t get to those areas as effectively.
Don’t be deterred by the name—the needles are very fine and don’t cause pain, and if any pain presents it’s generally minimal and is always under your control. Plus, the benefits of dry needling far outweigh any mild discomfort you may or may not experience.
When you think about all the tiny sinews, ligaments, connective cartilages and deeper layer muscles, it makes sense to consider dry needling because sometimes topical manual therapies won’t get to those areas as effectively.
How does dry needling work?
Dry needling is a technique that uses thin acupuncture needles inserted into trigger points and zones to treat pain.
Trigger points are irritable ‘knots’ within a muscle that may cause pain over a large area or cause referred pain to another area within the body, leading to difficulty in performing everyday tasks.
With dry needling a very thin needle is gently inserted into the skin to stimulate a trigger point or zone. The effect of the dry needle on these zones is that it helps to release taut muscle bands associated with trigger points, diminishing localised pain while improving muscle function.
As a result, joint mobility and muscle strength improve and it can also reduce soft tissue inflammation following acute injuries. Blood flow is regenerated to the area, flushing fresh nutrients through it for faster healing.
Trigger points are irritable ‘knots’ within a muscle that may cause pain over a large area or cause referred pain to another area within the body, leading to difficulty in performing everyday tasks.
With dry needling a very thin needle is gently inserted into the skin to stimulate a trigger point or zone. The effect of the dry needle on these zones is that it helps to release taut muscle bands associated with trigger points, diminishing localised pain while improving muscle function.
As a result, joint mobility and muscle strength improve and it can also reduce soft tissue inflammation following acute injuries. Blood flow is regenerated to the area, flushing fresh nutrients through it for faster healing.
What is dry needling good for?
Dry needling is excellent for almost any type of pain or ‘stuck-ness’ in your body. Pain can be a primary or secondary disorder that occurs as a consequence of some other internal condition, so combining dry needling with other manual therapies offers you a faster way to heal.
Our patients have dry needling for:
- recovery from injury
- improved sports performance
- acute and chronic pain management
- low back pain
- neck pain and tension
- shoulder pain
- frozen shoulder
- sciatica
- jaw tension
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- golfer’s & tennis elbow
- knee and ankle pain
- post exercise soreness
- plantar fasciitis
- muscle strains
- joint stiffness
What if I don’t like needles?
We completely understand. To reassure you, it’s far from the experience you’d have in a medical situation. Most people respond very well to dry needling with very little discomfort.
The gentleness of the technique involved, along with the needle’s fine diameter and shallow depth of insertion causes minimal pain and no trauma to the surrounding tissue. Needles are of the highest quality, are 100% sterile and for single use only.
You might feel some muscle tenderness after dry needling, just as you might after any other form of manual therapy treatment. Discomfort, if any, shouldn’t last more than 24 hours. Dry needling can be stopped at any stage of treatment without harm to your body—simply request that your practitioner discontinues.
The gentleness of the technique involved, along with the needle’s fine diameter and shallow depth of insertion causes minimal pain and no trauma to the surrounding tissue. Needles are of the highest quality, are 100% sterile and for single use only.
You might feel some muscle tenderness after dry needling, just as you might after any other form of manual therapy treatment. Discomfort, if any, shouldn’t last more than 24 hours. Dry needling can be stopped at any stage of treatment without harm to your body—simply request that your practitioner discontinues.
How safe is dry needling?
Dry needling is very safe when performed by a trained therapist.
In a study investigating its safety, it was found to have a very low percentage of adverse outcomes (0.04%) as compared to Aspirin (18.7%) & Ibuprofen (13.7%). These uncommon outcomes were bleeding, bruising and slight pain during or after treatment. (1)
In a study investigating its safety, it was found to have a very low percentage of adverse outcomes (0.04%) as compared to Aspirin (18.7%) & Ibuprofen (13.7%). These uncommon outcomes were bleeding, bruising and slight pain during or after treatment. (1)
How many treatments do I need?
Most patients will benefit from dry needling after 3-5 treatment sessions, but your progress depends on several factors:
- the length of time your condition has been present
- previous treatments you’ve had
- your general health
- your medical history
- the severity of your condition
- any medication you may be taking
What’s the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?
Dry needling is defined as rapid, short-term needling to altered or dysfunctional tissues in order to improve and/or restore function.
This may include (but not limited to) myofascial trigger points, periosteum and connective tissues. It may be performed by an acupuncture needle or any other injection needle without the injection of a fluid.
Acupuncture requires a lengthier time to stimulate specific areas along the skin—identified as acupuncture points or meridians. It involves various methods such as penetration by thin needles or the application of heat, pressure, or laser light and is used to treat more general health conditions. 1. Brady S, McEvoy J, Dommerholt J, Doody C. Adverse events following trigger point dry needling: a prospective survey of chartered physiotherapists. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2014;22(3):134-40.
This may include (but not limited to) myofascial trigger points, periosteum and connective tissues. It may be performed by an acupuncture needle or any other injection needle without the injection of a fluid.
Acupuncture requires a lengthier time to stimulate specific areas along the skin—identified as acupuncture points or meridians. It involves various methods such as penetration by thin needles or the application of heat, pressure, or laser light and is used to treat more general health conditions. 1. Brady S, McEvoy J, Dommerholt J, Doody C. Adverse events following trigger point dry needling: a prospective survey of chartered physiotherapists. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2014;22(3):134-40.
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