Dry needling is used by healthcare professionals, particularly physical therapists, to treat pain and muscle tightness. It requires thin needles into the skin and muscles to stimulate trigger points or myofascial trigger points (knots) in the muscles.
The term “dry needling” is used to differentiate this technique from the use of acupuncture needles, which is formed on traditional Chinese medicine principles and requires the insertion of needles into particular points on the body to stabilize the flow of energy.
Dry needling is also known by several other names, including intramuscular stimulation (IMS), trigger point dry needling, and myofascial trigger point therapy. Despite the different characteristics, these techniques share the common goal of releasing muscle tension and reducing pain by stimulating specific muscle points.
Acupuncture vs. Dry Needling
These practices share some resemblances, and both claim to provide therapeutic relief from pain. However, they involve different methods and should be distinct.
People have used acupuncture for centuries. And it is now well-regulated. Dry needling has been located more recently, and no official guidelines exist. If you’re experiencing muscles pain, searching for “Dry needling near me” can connect you with experts who offer the latest treatments and personalized care to help restore your muscles pain.
Acupuncture can be used for various medical conditions. The chief philosophy is that a body can be healed when energy is released.
Dry needle therapy is designed to alleviate tightness and pain in muscles. Practitioners believe that inserting a needle directly into a knot or pressure point will release tension in the surrounding muscle.
How are Dry Needling therapy and acupuncture similar?
Despite their fundamental differences, both dry needling and acupuncture display many similarities.
1. Both treatments use solid-core needles to pierce a patient’s skin and penetrate the tissues beneath.
2. Both aim to hit specific three-dimensional points within the body with the tip of the hand.
3. Neither technique depends on using medications or other drugs, not even topical or local anesthetics, to deliver its benefits.
Risks of Dry Needling
Side effects associated with dry needling include:
1. Bleeding where the needles were inserted
2. Fatigue
3. Fainting
4. Soreness during or after the procedure
5. Skin bruising
Side effects may last a few hours or up to one to two days. Most of these side effects are minor and do not cause significant injury or distress to patients who undergo dry needling.
There is also a risk of infection if non-sterile needles are used.
The dangers of dry needling are significantly decreased by working with a licensed and trained healthcare professional who uses consistent techniques and sterile equipment.
How does Dry Needling work?
Dry Needling, the common term for myofascial trigger point release, is a more advanced treatment technique for pain and movement impairments.
Physical therapists insert dry needles; they are dry because they contain no medication or solutions into the trigger points in your body.
Trigger points are a tight band of skeletal muscles located within an even larger muscle group.
Instead of medicine, the needle itself is the treatment; Dry needling uses tiny skin pricks to stimulate a twitch response in the muscle fibers in the taut bands of tissue, which then releases the splash of the trigger point that is causing the pain.
The action stimulates nerve fibers when the needle is expertly inserted into the skin. These fibers react by releasing substances that interrupt pain signals—and initiating a nerve pathway that results in the twitch noted before.
The muscle tissue is depolarized, and as a result, it relaxes from its tightened state.
Is Dry Needling an approved technique?
Dry needling is used by healthcare professionals, particularly physical therapists, to treat pain and muscle tightness. It involves the insertion of thin needles into the skin and muscles to stimulate trigger points or myofascial trigger points (knots) in the muscles.
The use of dry needling varies by country and jurisdiction, and its legal and regulatory status can be unclear. In some countries, such as the United States, dry needling is a legally recognized and approved technique that can be performed by licensed healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, under certain conditions.
However, in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, dry needling is not a regulated therapy and is considered a form of acupuncture, which is regulated by law and can only be performed by licensed acupuncturists.
It is important to note that a qualified and licensed healthcare professional trained in this technique should always use dry needling. Patients should also be informed of the possible risks and benefits of the treatment and have the opportunity to provide informed consent before undergoing the procedure.
How to find a qualified practitioner for Dry Needling?
If you are considering dry needling physical therapy as a treatment option for your pain or muscle tightness, here are a few steps you can take:
1. Talk to your healthcare provider: Before starting any new treatment, discussing your options with your healthcare provider is essential. They can help determine if dry needling is a safe and appropriate treatment for your condition.
2. Find a qualified practitioner: Dry needling should only be performed by a qualified and licensed healthcare professional trained in this technique. Ask for referrals from your healthcare provider, or look for practitioners specializing in dry needling.
3. Ask questions: Before undergoing the procedure, ask your practitioner about their experience and qualifications, the potential risks and benefits, and what to expect during and after the treatment.
4. Follow your treatment plan: Dry needling may be combined with other treatments, such as exercise or manual therapy. Following your treatment plan and attending all scheduled appointments is vital to achieving the best possible outcomes.
Remember, dry needling is one of many treatment options for pain and muscle tightness. You can determine if this technique is proper by working with your healthcare provider and finding a qualified practitioner.
Dry Needling Physical Therapy in Livonia
Dry needling may be an effective treatment option if you’re struggling with chronic pain or muscle tightness. Dry needling can help reduce pain and improve the range of motion by stimulating muscle trigger points. Talk to our dry-needling physical therapy experts in Michigan to see if this technique suits you.
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