What is Dry Needling?

Dry Needling is a new physical therapy technique that is gaining popularity with each passing day. Although it is ironic how inserting needles in your skin can reduce pain, but dry Needling is backed up by extensive scientific research. While dry Needling may be similar to acupuncture in appearance, the two techniques are very different. Dry Needling has its roots in scientific research and analysis. It targets trigger points to facilitate motion and relieve pain. 

Dry Needling is used as an alternative physical therapy used in combination with other forms of physical therapy. Focussing on trigger points promotes soft tissue healing, which facilitates the restoration of joint and muscle functionality. Weakened muscles and restricted limbs are side effects commonly observed in people suffering from injury, illness, or chronic pain. This can be achieved by dry Needling by diagnosing and treating the physical ailment causing discomfort.

Dry Needling entails physical therapists inserting several stainless steel needles into your skin at the location of trigger points. This relieves muscle pain and promotes trigger point relaxation. The stainless steel needles are used as-is- meaning no medicine or fluid is injected in the body during this procedure, hence the term ‘dry.’

Trigger points are the point of origination of pain or knotted muscles responsible for muscle strain, soreness, and pain; these trigger points experience relaxation when dry Needling is practiced on the affected area relieving muscle tension and reducing muscle spasm. The length of the procedure depends on the complexity of your ailment. However, the needles stay inside your skin for a small amount of time. 

Types of Dry Needling

There are six types of dry needling techniques that can be broadly divided into two categories: In-and-Out methods and non-trigger point techniques.

Common examples of In-and-Out techniques are pistoning or pecking, which rely on the insertion and removal of the needle repeatedly on the trigger points. This creates a heating effect inducing muscle relaxation and enables trigger point release.

While dry Needling is optimum for treating muscle pain, soreness, and inflammation, some techniques cover a wide range of nervous disorders. These are known as non-trigger point treatments. Non-trigger point treatments entail the practitioner inserting needles around the affected area instead of directly inserting them inside the trigger point to relieve muscle tension and strain. This technique is proper when targeting muscle groups or more significant neurological problems.

What are the benefits of Dry Needling?

There are numerous health benefits of dry Needling; some of them are:

Relief from Muscle Pain and Tightness

Dry needling targets trigger points to facilitate pain-free muscle movement and reduce muscle tightness and inflammation. Trigger points are knotted muscles that create tightness and sprain within the surrounding muscles and tissues. By inserting the stainless steel needles inside the trigger points, a feeling of relaxation is instilled in the muscles promoting trigger point release. Dry Needling helps alleviate pressure and muscle soreness caused by pain and inflammation. This facilitates mobility and improves overall functionality.

Improve Free Range of Motion

Once the trigger points experience release from muscular tension and pressure, overall functionality improves the free range of motion. Dry Needling improves agility and flexibility in one’s body. When Dry Needling is used in conjunction with other forms of strength training and physical therapy treatments, it strengthens muscles that can better support your body and spine. This helps in relief from spinal problems as well as mobilizes joints facilitating movement.

The conditions treated by Dry Needling?

Dry Needling is usually used along with other forms of physical therapy and is a small aspect of a more extensive physical therapy treatment plan. It is used to boost soft tissue healing and expedite muscle relaxation. Dry Needling treats aches and pains such as lower back pain, neck pain, and elbow pain. It can treat spinal and joint dysfunctions effectively. Spinal issues such as disc problems, neck pain, and sciatica can be treated with dry Needling. Dry Needling can relieve a range of physical problems by targeting trigger points, causing tension release within the knotted and tightened muscles. Trigger points can form from postural deformity, lousy posture, emotional or physical trauma, and repetitive actions. Trigger points can cause referral pain, such as toothache can induce migraine and ear pain.

Dry Needling Side Effects

Mild side effects such as bruising, bleeding, or temporary soreness are common when undergoing dry Needling. Since it is an invasive form of physical therapy, unhygienic products such as non-sterile needles can put you at the risk of infection and contracting blood-borne diseases. Bleeding at the place of contact is a common after-effect of dry Needling. In the case of people who have hemophobia, fainting may also happen as a result.