Dry Needling and Trigger Points

03 Dec Dry Needling and Trigger Points

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a treatment technique involving the insertion of thin sterile needles into muscle tissues to help release pain and muscle tension. Myotherapists often use dry needling to target trigger points – which are hyper-irritable spots within a muscle.

Trigger points, also known as muscle knots, can occur due to stress, poor posture, and overuse. They can produce pain and affect the muscle’s normal function. Dry needling aims to bring on a “twitch response” from the muscle which stimulates the trigger points and release the tension to reduce pain.

Is it the same as acupuncture?

Although dry needling uses the same kind of needles as acupuncture, it is not the same. Dry needling is based on Western medical research and principles, whereas acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine with the purpose of altering energy flow (“Qi”). Dry needling is a modern, science-based therapy for restoring normal tissue function and reducing pain.

Does it hurt? Is it safe?

Dry needling is considered a safe treatment for nearly all patients, but like any invasive procedure, it has risks. Mild adverse reactions can include minor bleeding or bruising, or some soreness in the muscle after treatment. These symptoms are likely to resolve within 1-2 days.

Dry needling is also a relatively painless procedure. Generally, patients do not feel needle insertion, but once it reaches the trigger point, it might feel like a dull ache. The twitch response might feel like a cramping sensation, but this is a therapeutic response and is a good reaction to dry needling.

Who can benefit from dry needling?

Dry needling can be useful for trigger points and sore spots commonly found in a range of musculoskeletal pain conditions. This treatment technique is particularly useful for treating tightness and stiffness:

• Neck and shoulder tightness
• Back pain
• Tennis elbow
• Calf and hamstring tightness
• TMJ dysfunction

At Western Myotherapy, our qualified and experienced therapists use dry needling techniques alongside Remedial Massage and Myotherapy treatments.

If you’re interested in integrating dry needling as part of your next treatment, or to know more, bookings are available with our therapists every Monday-Friday & Saturday!

You can contact Western Myotherapy or call the clinic on (03) 8001 2042 to secure your appointment.