GeneralWhat Can Dry Needling Help With?

It may sound ridiculous and gruesome to imagine sticking needles in the body to relieve pain. Still, many are surprised it is an effective form of physiotherapy known as trigger point dry needling and myofascial trigger point dry needling. It’s practised by medical doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and some physical therapists to treat acute pain and inflammation and promote holistic body healing. Check out what dry needling is all about and see what possible benefits it can provide you.

What is Dry Needling?

The dry needling technique is effective in relieving tightness along with pain in muscles. The practitioners of the technique believe that inserting a needle directly into the pressure point or knot helps release tension from the surrounding muscles.

The practitioner inserts very thin, short, filiform needles made of stainless steel into pressure points. Sports therapists and other physical therapists are certified to perform dry needling. It treats spinal and joint dysfunction, low back pain, neck pain, migraines, tennis elbow, and much more.

Can Reduce Soreness & Stiffness

For patients ready to undergo minimally invasive treatment involving sterile needles, this therapy can be highly effective in releasing muscle soreness, stiffness, and pain stemming from a sports injury, tendonitis, and inflammation. Most practitioners opine that they have a high success rate in treating it with other manual techniques.

Used for Treating Myofascial Pain Syndrome

The dry needling technique is good for stimulating the muscle’s trigger points. It is often referred to as a knot, and it can lead to widespread pain rather than being limited to the afflicted muscle. This condition is known as myofascial pain syndrome, where a tight band of skeletal muscle within a larger muscle group becomes tender to touch and may lead to pain in other portions of the body. It may cause a little twitch as the needle is inserted into the affected joint and could indicate that the therapy is working.

Can Treat All Problems Issuing From the Trigger Points

Dry needling therapy treats the trigger points in the arms, back, and neck. Athletes and sportspersons often get them in their thigh and calf muscles. Alongside there are other conditions also that can be treated with dry needling sessions. These include plantar fasciitis, shoulder pain, knee pain, Achilles tendonitis, and hip and gluteal pain.

Helps in Promoting Healing

This technique is useful in treating muscular issues that do not include trigger points. The needle creates a very minute lesion on the affected tissue, which in turn promotes proper blood circulation and helps the area heal.

Highly Effective in the Treatment of Joint Soreness

For patients willing to break free from the cycle of pain occurring at various joints in the body, the dry needling technique might help. Joint problems stemming from herniated discs, arthritis, strains, or sprains in the muscle and ligament are often accompanied by muscle spasms and tensions. It reduces pain and gradually improves mobility.

Aids in Dissipating Inflammation Causing Mediators

When tissue becomes irritated, inflamed, or damaged, the other muscles in close vicinity may contract. It causes restrictions in blood flow to the affected area and worsens the condition to a great extent.

Since dry needling is used to insert the needle in the affected area, it triggers the body’s healing response. As it causes micro tears in the body, the natural defence mechanism is activated, bringing nutrient-dense blood to the site to boost the pace of tissue repair. It also helps dissipate inflammatory mediators, substances gathering at the site of inflammation.

Even though the name dry needling may intimidate you, this medical process is safe, gives minimum discomfort, and is highly effective for patients afflicted with musculoskeletal presentations. This treatment is performed by trained physical therapists certified in the process. While it treats the issues with muscle tissue and restores the function of the muscles, it is not used as a standalone process. In most cases, dry needling is a wider physiotherapy approach that incorporates other conventional therapy interventions into the treatment process. If you have been suffering from any of the afflictions above, you might want to consider giving dry needling a chance. You just might be surprised by the unexpected benefits it can provide you and elevate your daily life for the better.

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