Dry needling is a unique evidence-based procedure intended to specifically target and restore muscle function, with an emphasis on improving tissue healing and restoring normal tissue function.
How Does it Work?
Dry needling uses a very fine needle to insert into the ‘trigger point’ of the muscle tissue. The tiny needle induces injury signals to the brain to initiate a sequence of events to repair the damaged tissue with new, healthy tissue.
Needling into a painful ‘trigger point’ – knots in the muscle; when you inject a needle into them, it sparks a change in chemistry inside the muscle. Dry needling in the trigger point provokes a ‘twitch’ response from the muscle. Once a ‘twitch’ response has been elicited, the muscle fibers in that area relax, ‘inflammation’ is reduced and circulation improves.
As a result of these physiological processes, it can purposely address muscle and tendon pain.
What type of problems can be treated?
Dry needling can be used for a variety of musculoskeletal problems. Some of the common conditions include:
- sore/stiff neck
- back and shoulder pain
- arm pain (tennis elbow, carpal tunnel)
- headaches
- jaw pain
- leg pain (sciatica, hamstrings strains, calf tightness/spasms)
Dry Needling is not a fix-all solution, it’s usually just one piece of the puzzle. At Wisdom Physiotherapy, Jeremy, Anto or Sandrine may incorporate this into your Physiotherapy treatment, we do not charge any extra for this treatment and we only use the highest quality, sterile, surgical steel needles.
Dry Needling vs Acupuncture
Dry needling is different from Traditional Chinese Acupuncture. Both methods do involve inserting a needle into the tissue. However, there are significant differences in the evaluation, application and overall goal of the treatment. Traditional Chinese Acupuncture involves inserting needles along a meridian based on Eastern Medicine principles in order to re-establish chi, or life energy, back in the body. Dry needling involves an examination of the neuromuscular system and insertion of a needle within the muscle in order to decrease pain and restore function.
To make a Physiotherapy appointment with us in Nedlands, simply call on (08) 6389 2947 or click here to make an appointment now online.
