Dry Needling

What is Dry Needling?
Dry Needling is a specific treatment technique used on muscle trigger points that are creating pain and discomfort. The treatment uses a thin, sterile, solid filament needle inserted into the skin to stimulate the underlying myofascial trigger points. The procedure is called Dry Needling because no liquid or medication is injected into the patient.

A muscle trigger point is a highly localized, hyper-irritable spot in a palpable, taut band of skeletal muscle fibers. Located throughout the body, trigger points have been shown to be the primary source of pain in as many as 85 percent of pain-related visits to primary care doctors.

They develop for a variety of reasons, including referred or local pain, inflammation, and tissue injury. 

How It Works?
When the muscle is stimulated with the needle, a twitch or rapid depolarization of the fibers takes place. This removes the compression on the joint, nerve, or vascular tissue. As a result, the muscle activity reduces dramatically, allowing it to relax and the pain and dysfunction to decrease.

Occasionally, when the needle is inserted a patient will feel “referred pain.” This is usually a positive sign confirming the trigger point as the cause of the patient’s pain. 

There are a number of theories that believe Dry Needling also stimulates the release of the body’s endogenous opiates, initiating a new healing process.

Is It Similar To Acupuncture?
While Dry Needling uses the same tool as acupuncture, the theory behind it is different. Acupuncture follows Eastern Medicine’s key principles of holistic treatment and normalizing the body’s energy imbalance.

Dry Needling is based on Western Medicine’s practices to restore normal muscle function.