What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a form of acupuncture that was derived from the traditional Chinese medicine practice of acupuncture thousands of years ago. It is not the same as acupuncture, although there are some similarities. It is vital that you only use an experienced, qualified practitioner of this treatment.

Dry needling uses the insertion of solid needles into the body with manipulation to improve health and treat illness, and is a popular method of treatment for muscular and joint pain. It differs from acupuncture in that it uses solid filiform or hollow-core hypodermic needles inserted into trigger points, and is specifically used for injury and severe muscular pain. Sometimes it also administers the injection of saline, local anaesthetic, or corticosteroid into the tissue.

At Active Physiotherapy our experienced therapists can offer dry needling. This practice should only be performed by those who have been educated and qualified in the procedure, as it is invasive.

What Can Dry Needling Help?

There are many musculoskeletal conditions that dry needling can help. It is an excellent treatment, as it can get to very deep layers of muscles that can’t be reached by hands and fingers alone. Dry needling will effectively ease pain and relieve tension, particularly when muscles have gone into spasm.

• Dry needling is effective for tendonitis of any tendon in the body.
• We recommend dry needling for joint sprains such as ankles, areas of the back and neck, and others.
• Dry needling is used to relieve tension headaches.
• Active Physiotherapy uses dry needling for ligament problems.
• Joint pain (such as knee, hip, or back pain) can be lessened using dry needling.
• Dry needling is an excellent treatment for muscle strains.
• We recommend dry needling for heel pain or plantar fasciitis.
• Dry needling is effective at combatting bursitis (when a bursa becomes inflamed and swollen).
• Dry needling can combat sciatica or other neural pain.
• We treat patients with RSI (repetitive strain injuries) using the dry needling technique.
• It is also excellent for tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, hamstring injuries, shin splints, and other trauma.

The Benefits of Dry Needling

There are numerous benefits to using the dry needling technique, but the biggest advantage is the ability to reach deep into the tissue. For this reason, it can be more effective than manual massage and relieve symptoms of pain quickly. Not only does it flush toxins out of the body and a short course is usually all that is required to bring you back to health. Sometimes dry needling is used in conjunction with physiotherapy to achieve optimum results.

• Dry needling is minimal in pain compared to other manual methods.
• A short course of treatment will usually be all you require to return to optimum health.
• It can be a more effective method than other manual treatments.
• Muscles feel comfortable post-treatment, and pain is greatly diminished if not removed.
• Muscle length is improved and use of mobility in muscles is generally better.
• It is an excellent treatment for helping patients to relax and sleep better.