Acupuncture Dry Needling
Acupuncture Dry needling is used in conjunction with Physiotherapy and some massage treatments to help alleviate pain and spasm in muscles, trigger point therapy as well as ameliorate swelling and promote healing.
Dry needling stimulates specific reactions in the target tissues for its therapeutic effect. This form of therapy is achieved by utilising a solid, single-use, sterile filament needle. It differs from the traditional eastern practice of acupuncture, as dry needling involves insertion of needles into myofascial trigger points to deactivate and help resolve trigger points (acupuncture involves insertion in needles into specific energy meridians in order to achieve a desired result). We use the word 'dry' as a 'wet' needle is a needle that contains fluid - as used when giving injections.
How does it work?
Dry needling increases opioid levels, therefore decreases pain. It also works on the pain-gate theory - where only one pain message can be received by the brain from one area at only one time.
Normal slow dull aching messages from an injury can be 'intercepted' by the needle message. It helps reduce localised swelling, improves natural anti-inflammatory response and tissue re-modelling, as well as ameliorates the alignment of connective tissue and scar tissue breakdown. With trigger points, needling into the trigger point will reduce the spasm and relieve not only the local pain but also the referred pain. Dry needling improves circulation which is beneficial to an injured area that has compromised blood flow. Careful and specific placement of the needles in the body will relieve the pressure often at times on a nerve. By relieving that pressure, it allows the blood to flow into an injured area. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, acupuncture or dry needling can offer great results and, if practised well, there is also a remarkable absence of the post treatment tissue soreness often experienced by the subject following other manual therapy interventions.
What is involved in Dry needling
Following injury or pain, muscles tend to develop trigger points - usually consisting of a small band of muscle which feels knotty. It is sometimes painful when touched, but the pain is often referred to another area of the body.
Our therapist (after your consent) can insert the super-fine dry (acupuncture) to help alleviate the trigger point and relax the muscle tissue.
We use the finest quality Sensei Japanese acupuncture needles. This part of the treatment usually lasts from 7 and up to 13 minutes. Needles can be placed on multiple areas of the body, if needed, and 'stimulated' or 'twiddled' as required to get the most effective result.
Dry needling can help many problems such as painful trigger points in muscles, acute swelling after injury, as well as muscle spasm and tightness.
Headaches and spinal pain referral from tight muscles can be helped with dry needling and is most effective in conjunction with Physiotherapy, joint mobilisation and remedial massage. Dry needling can also help stimulate healing in the injured tissues.