Dry needling is an effective treatment modality gaining popularity in physiotherapy for relieving pain and improving mobility. If you’ve been struggling with persistent muscle pain or limited range of motion, dry needling might be worth considering. It’s often used as part of a broader pain management plan to treat:
- Musculoskeletal Pain: Pain relief in the shoulder, rotator cuff, elbow (tennis elbow), lower back, hip, knee, calf, heel, upper back, and neck
- Overuse/Sports Injuries: Hamstring strains, repetitive strain injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, and more
- Spinal Issues: Sciatica, whiplash, herniated discs, and more
- Headaches: Tension-type headaches, migraines, post-concussion headaches
But what exactly is dry needling, how does it work, and what should you expect from a session? Let’s break it down.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a technique used by physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals to relieve muscle pain and improve movement. Unlike acupuncture, which is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, dry needling is based on Western medicine principles.
It involves inserting ultra-thin needles into specific trigger points—tight muscle knots that cause pain and tension. These knots form due to factors like injury, overuse, poor posture, or stress.
By targeting these areas, dry needling releases muscle tension, reduces pain, and restores normal movement. It’s commonly used for conditions like neck pain, shoulder pain, and muscle aches, making it a valuable tool in pain management.
How Does Dry Needling Work?
Dry needling works by stimulating trigger points with thin, solid needles. This process triggers three key responses in your body:
- Muscle Relaxation: The insertion of the needle first causes a local twitch response in the muscle – a brief contraction followed by relaxation. This natural response helps to release muscle tension and break up knots that have formed in the tissue.
- Pain Relief: At the same time, the needle stimulates the surrounding nerve endings, which can help reduce pain signals in a similar way to how firmly rubbing a bumped elbow can reduce how much it hurts. The stimulation also causes a release of natural pain-relieving chemicals (endogenous opioids) and over time, can desensitize the nerve endings that are causing you trouble.
- Improved Blood Flow: Dry needling treatment also increases blood flow to the area, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the affected muscles while helping to remove waste products. The improved circulation aids in reducing inflammation and speeding up the healing process.
Each treatment at Leaside Sports Medicine is tailored to your specific condition, with your practitioner carefully selecting the most appropriate trigger points to target based on your symptoms and their physical assessment.
Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture: What’s the Difference?
Both dry needling and acupuncture use thin needles, but they have different origins and goals:
- Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and aims to balance the body’s energy flow (qi) by targeting specific meridian points.
- Dry needling is based on Western medicine and focuses on trigger points in muscles to relieve pain and improve movement.
Despite this difference in theoretical framework, there is still significant overlap between the anatomical positions of myofascial trigger points targeted by dry needling and the anatomical positions of traditional acupuncture points.
Another key difference lies in the training of the practitioners. Dry needling is typically performed by licensed physiotherapists, while acupuncture is administered by licensed acupuncturists and other practitioners. Both techniques use acupuncture needles, but the goals and methods of treatment still differ in some ways.
What to Expect During a Dry Needling Session
If you’re new to dry needling, here’s what you can expect:
- Consultation: Your physiotherapist will review your medical history and discuss your symptoms to determine if dry needling would be appropriate for your condition.
- Treatment Plan: If dry needling is recommended, your therapist will explain the process and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
- The Session: During the session, your therapist will insert thin needles into the affected muscles or tight areas. You may feel slight discomfort or a sharp pain as the needle reaches the trigger point, but this sensation is typically mild and brief.
- Aftercare: After the session (which usually lasts 15-30 minutes), you might experience some muscle soreness or mild discomfort, but these side effects are usually short-lived.
Benefits of Dry Needling
Dry needling offers several benefits for patients dealing with pain and mobility issues. Here are some of the key advantages:
- Pain Relief: Dry needling has been shown to be highly effective for reducing certain types of myofascial pain, particularly neck pain and shoulder pain.
- Improved Mobility: By releasing tension in tight muscle bands, dry needling can improve your range of motion and overall ability to function without soreness.
- Faster Recovery: The technique promotes blood flow and stimulates the body’s natural healing processes, helping you recover from injury more quickly.
- Versatility: Dry needling can be used to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, making it a valuable tool in sports physical therapy and general pain management.
Potential Side Effects and Risks
Dry needling is generally safe, but like any treatment, it has potential side effects:
- Mild discomfort during or after the session.
- Muscle soreness or muscle aches for a day or two.
- Minor bruising or bleeding at the needle insertion sites.
In very rare cases, more serious complications can occur if the needles are inserted too deeply, but these risks are minimal when dry needling is performed by a trained and licensed healthcare provider.
Is Dry Needling Right for You?
Dry needling can be an effective technique for managing pain and improving mobility, but it’s not suitable for everyone. If you’re considering this treatment, it’s important to consult a qualified physiotherapist or healthcare professional. They can evaluate your condition, discuss your medical history, and determine if dry needling could be a good addition to your treatment plan.
Conclusion
Dry needling is a powerful tool in the world of physical therapy, offering considerable relief for many patients struggling with pain and mobility issues. By targeting trigger points and promoting blood flow, this technique helps reduce pain, improve range of motion, and enhance overall function.
If you’re considering dry needling and live in the Toronto area, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our licensed therapists (Rachel, Valerie, and Suzie) at Leaside Sports Medicine to discuss your options.
