Dry Needling

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a treatment where thin needles are inserted into tight trigger points of muscles to reduce pain and improve muscle function. The needles are "dry" because no substances are injected.

There are two main styles of this therapy

  1. Static; when the practicioner uses a needle and leaves that needle in one place for up to several minutes. They may move it a few times in those few minutes.

  2. Dynamic; when the practicioner activates and moves the needle to elicit a potential twitch response

How does it work?

Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

  1. Insertion of Needles: Thin, solid needles are inserted into specific areas of muscle and connective tissue, often targeting trigger points, (or knots more commonly referred to).

  2. Trigger Point Stimulation: When the needles penetrate these trigger points, they can help release muscle tension, improve blood flow, and reduce inflammation. This process can lead to a decrease in pain and an improvement in range of motion and muscle function.

  3. Local Twitch Response: The insertion of the needle can cause an involuntary muscle contraction known as a local twitch response. Practicioners refer to this as the gold standard of the treatments, but is not always necassarily needed to break the pain cycle, relieve pressure and reduce pain intensity.

  4. Endorphin Release: The prick sensation from the needles can stimulate nerve fibers that prompt the brain to release endorphins, which are natural pain reliever.

Isn’t Dry Needling and Acupuncture the same thing?

Dry needling differs from acupuncture. Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine and aims to balance the body’s energy flow. Dry needling, on the other hand, is rooted in Western medicine and focuses on relieving pain and improving function by targeting specific anatomical sites.