Dry Needling

Dry Needling is an intervention used by skilled healthcare professionals to aid treatment of musculoskeletal pain. A sterilized, thin filiform needle (acupuncture needle) is inserted into taut bands of a muscle, known as Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrP), stimulating and releasing the trigger point, thereby relieving pain. Because the needle is non-medicated, and nothing is injected into the muscle, it is termed “dry” needling.

What conditions would benefit from Dry Needling

Dry Needling can help relieve pain and improve function caused by MTrP or Myofascial trigger points. MTrPs are taut bands within a larger muscle. They are tender to touch and can refer pain to other parts of the body. MTrPs abnormally release excessive neurotransmitters, which causes contractions within the muscle; this results in reduced local blood flow thereby, limiting the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the affected muscle. Persistent muscle contractures can lead to tissue damage, impaired movement patterns and pain.

Treatment Effects

After a detailed assessment where your trained health care professional clearly identifies MTrPs and movement impairments, dry needling can be integrated into the treatment plan along with other interventions (which may include manual therapy, manipulation and exercises).

Dry needling has been shown to significantly decrease muscle tone and relieve pain. When inserted into the MTrP, a local twitch response is elicited. This twitch response decreases the release of neurotransmitters causing the contractures, improves blood flow and oxygenation to the muscle and lowers pain threshold.

Visiting Rebalance for Dry Needling

If you are interested in dry needling for your condition, please contact us and book in with a physiotherapist, chiropractor or registered acupuncturist that is qualified in this treatment approach. You will want to ensure your practitioner has Gunn IMS training or is certified in Integrated Dry Needling methods. If you contact us, we can help find the best practitioner to meet your needs.

We look forward to helping you on your journey to recovery.

References:

1. Cagnie B, Dewitte V, Barbe T, Timmermans F, Delrue N, Meeus M. Physiologic effects of dry needling. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013 Aug; 17(8):348.
2. Ozden AV, Alptekin HK, Esmaeilzadeh S, Cihan C, Aki S, Aksoy C, Oncu J. Evaluation of the sympathetic skin response to dry needling treatment in female myofascial pain syndrome patients. J Clin Med Res. 2016 Jul;8(7):513-8.