What is DRY NEEDLING?
The primary goal of dry needling is to reduce or relieve muscle tension, pain and cramping as well as improve flexibility. In some instances, it may be used to stimulate healing of a tendon or ligament at its insertion into the bone.
The practitioner inserts a very thin, stainless steel filiform needle (acupuncture needle) into trigger points or tight areas in the muscle. Nothing is injected, hence the term, dry needling.
The needles may be placed in several areas at once and allowed to rest in place for a period of time while the muscle knot releases, or a single needle may be inserted at multiple different angles to release the trigger point, depending on the region being treated and the severity of the tension.
Other terms commonly used to describe dry needling, include trigger point dry needling, and intramuscular manual therapy.
How does DRY NEEDLING differ from accupuncture?
These practices share some similarities, and both claim to provide therapeutic relief from pain. However, they involve different methods and should not be confused.
Both Dry Needling and Acupuncture involve puncturing the skin with thin needles for therapeutic purposes. While both techniques may aim to relieve tension or pain, dry needling involves needling of trigger points and areas myofascial tension or tendinopathy. Acupuncture is provided only by an acupuncturist and involves insertion of needles along meridians of the body to release endorphins, to stimulate the nervous system and align a person’s energy / chi.
