Dry Needling

Dry needling is a type of treatment aimed at relieving muscle pain and tension. With dry needling, very thin needles are inserted into ‘knots’ or trigger points in specific muscles with the aim of releasing the tension in that muscle. It is similar in some ways to acupuncture, though acupuncture is driven by ancient Chinese Medicine principals.

 

Treatment with dry needling can be a great option for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including muscle pain and tightness, lower back pain, neck pain, knee pain and more. There is mounting evidence for the benefits of dry needling in many situations. If your problem is unresponsive to other types of manual therapy (such as spinal manipulation, mobilisation or massage), it can be worthwhile trying dry needling.

 

The needles we use are very thin. Typically, they are 0.2 - 0.3mm in width, and of varying lengths. They are much smaller than needles used to take blood or deliver vaccinations. Each needle is a single-use, sterile needle to reduce any risk of infection.

 

It is also considered to be quite safe. During the needling, it is quite normal to experience a mild to moderate muscular ache and sometimes muscle twitching. Occasionally some people may feel light-headed or dizzy.

 

Following needling, a short-lived muscular ache is common, which should not impact on any of your normal activities, and occasionally a small bruise may develop where a needle was inserted. As with any form of therapy or treatment, there are some more serious risks, however these are quite rare. Your chiropractor will always discuss any relevant serious risks with you prior to treatment.

 

If you are interested in giving dry needling a try, give us a call today!

 

 

References

Kalichman L, Vulfsons S. Dry Needling in the Management of Musculoskeletal Pain. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 2010: 23 (5); 640-646.