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DRY NEEDLING

Dry needling is a very powerful and effective tool that we use to treat a variety of injuries and conditions. It is used to enhance the benefits and efficiency of rehabilitation, injury prevention and performance enhancement. Below is a list of common conditions that dry needling is used to treat and answers to frequently asked questions.

  • Low Back Pain

  • Neck Pain

  • Car Accidents

  • Trauma

  • Shoulder Pain and Dysfunction

  • Sports Injuries

  • Hip, Sacrum or Pelvic Pain

  • Knee Pain

  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

  • Foot & Ankle Injuries

  • Post-operative Rehabilitation

  • Postural Concerns

  • Overuse injuries

  • Headaches

  • Spasms

  • Plantar fasciitis 

  • Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD)

  • Elbow Pain 

  • Hand & Wrist Pain

  • Thoracic & Abdominal Pain

WHAT IS IT?

  • Not Acupuncture (see below)

  • Called Dry Needling because it does not involve injecting a wet substance

  • Focused to address painful “knots”in muscle that often produce local pain as well as radiating or referred pain to other parts of the body

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

  • Muscular pain relief both locally and referred

  • Restores muscle strength,function, performance and range of motion

  • Accelerated return to activity

  • Optimizes speed, agility and power

  • Relaxes tight muscles, activates weak muscles

HOW DOES IT WORK?

  • A small monofilament needle is inserted into triggerpoints or taut bands in muscle tissue

  • Stimulates healing of injured or dysfunctional soft tissue, resets muscle tone

  • Restores normal physiology, reduces muscle tension and pain, normalizes biomechanics, facilitates accelerated return to activity

WHAT TO EXPECT?

  • Typically described as a deep aching or cramping sensation and an involuntary muscle twitch response

  • Side effects are variable but can include muscle soreness, similar to soreness after an intense workout and occasionally a local bruise

  • Can be combined with electrical stimulation to enhance the response

Dry Needling

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  • Based on Modern Western Medicine with anatomical and neurophysiological principles and is supported by research

  • Aimed to address myofascial tension and improve musculoskeletal function

  • Essentially performing intramuscular therapy i.e.manual therapy inside of the muscle

VS

Acupuncture

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  • Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and the belief that health is determined by a balanced flow of chi

  • Uses the theory of meridians and the placement of needles is targeted to restore chi

​​To Sum It Up:
The same filament needles are used in both dry needling and acupuncture however, theory and clinical reasoning behind the needle placement is different

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