Dry Needling. How does it help?

You have probably heard of acupuncture but aren't sure what the difference between it and dry needling really is. Well basically the needles are the same but the theory for their use and their applications do differ somewhat. Traditionally acupuncturists treat energy channels called meridians. The balancing of these pathways is crucial to the holistic health of the individual. Often during acupuncture treatments needles are superficially inserted meaning that they only enter the dermis (cutaneous tissue) and do not penetrate to deeper layers which are made of muscle, ligaments, tendons, and deep fascia. There is the first and probably most obvious difference in the two applications. Dry needling when performed by western trained manual health practitioners usually means that the needle is inserted to the level of a trigger point (which is a taut muscle band causing tension/pain) providing a release of stored energy and changing the way we perceive our symptoms. Dry needling is a very effective treatment approach to deactivate origins of muscle pain which can resolve symptoms quickly. People have mixed perceptions about the pain associated with dry needling. The two most common approaches are superficial (just bellow the layer of the skin) and deep dry needling (entering the muscle belly). Both methods are effective at treating pain and the approach chosen should match the patients expectatioins and responses to dry needling stimuli. Some people are strong responders (needing less stimulation) whilst others are weak responders (requiring more stimulation). Dry needling has risks associated with it such as light bleeding, bruising, fainting and post needling soreness. Some of the less common but significant risks for dry needling are infection and the even less common risks for pneumothorax ( an ingression into the lung cavity). In the hands of highly skilled dry needling practitioners dry needling is a safe and effective treatment choice.

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