Dry Needling is a technique inspired by acupuncture that utilises fine acupuncture needles to treat muscle pain or myofascial pain. Dry needling is an essential technique for treating trigger point pain, of which is responsible for a majority of well known pain syndromes.
Trigger points are tender spots in tight bands of muscle, which illicit pain when pressed. Often these areas can be the source of many pains in the body and can even refer pain from one area to another (ie. a trigger point in the hip may refer pain into the hamstring or calf).
There are many theories as to why dry needling works so well, the common belief is that when the needle enters a tight trigger point, the pain causes a local excitation and then inhibition of the muscle, also known as the “twitch response”. This inhibition relaxes the painful muscle and gives a rapid relief of pain, tension, range of movement and normalises movement patterns of the muscles in that area allowing rehabilitation exercises to be performed more effectively.
Dry needling is a safe, effective and respected method for pain relief and, when used in conjunction with other techniques, can significantly improve muscle range, strength and control.
Dry needling is recommended to those suffering from joint pain, headache and migraines, inflammatory conditions, neck and back pain and acute and chronic muscle trigger point pain.
