Dry needling uses acupuncture needles to release trigger points in muscles, which is what makes it different to acupuncture. The concept is based on the work of Travell & Symmonds , who routinely studied the behaviour of muscles throughout the human body.
There are some common pain referral patterns that can indicate which muscles may be a source of pain in the human body. The treatment approach aims to de-activate the most active trigger points within these pathological muscles, meaning any muscle in the human body may be treated with the dry needling approach.
Mechanically, the acupuncture needle enters the trigger point and disrupts its contractile behaviour.
There is no actual medicine associated with the needle: it is just sterilized stainless steel. Since muscles operate via neuro-electrical impulses, the use of electrical stimulation can also alter this spontaneous electrical activity behaviour.
In layman’s terms: the knot in the muscle is released.
Sometimes, the point is felt to release on first entering the needle into the muscle. However, the trigger point often needs to be invaded several times before sufficient release is achieved. This process can be painful for the patient, which is why we are careful to use this approach sparingly, and we always respect patients’ concerns if they do not want to try it.
Dry needling is used to target musculoskeletal complaints and the principle of releasing tight muscles is the main focus of treatment. We use dry needling to treat:
The dry needling approach is most effective in conditions that involve persistent tight muscle activity. This treatment is often used in conjunction with osteopathy & acupuncture.
The same basic acupuncture needles are used for this procedure, and they are used directly in the offending tight areas, which disturbs the contractile state of the muscle by inducing a local ‘twitch’ response. This can then reduce the overall tightness of the muscle. It’s a great technique to use as an adjunct to massage.
