What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is part of modern Western medicine and is supported by research. It is a skilled treatment technique used by physical therapists to treat myofascial trigger points, muscle, and connective tissue for the management of pain and movement impairments.
It can decrease the “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system and help regulate the central and autonomic nervous system. It may provide relief from muscular pain and tension, stiffness, and stress.
It has also been found in the research to help with symptoms of urinary incontinence and pelvic pain.
Dry needle therapy is performed by penetrating the skin with a sterile, thin filament needle and leaving the point in the muscle for 10-30 minutes. The in-and-out technique and non-trigger points technique are two additional variations. Occasionally the provider may use an electrical stimulation unit with dry needling.
Although it is good to be aware of the mild dry needling side effects, severe risks are extremely rare. Common side effects can be soreness, bruising, or mild bleeding at the site of injection.
You cannot receive dry needling if you are in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, have an infection in treatment area, lymphedema, malignant tumor at site of treatment, and hemophilia. Some issues may prevent your provider to not perform dry needling. Make sure you educate your provider if you have such issues as hematoma, varicose veins, eczema, psoriasis or rash, peripheral neuropathy, Hepatitis B or C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, pacemaker, cosmetic or surgical implants, in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy, within 3 months of a surgical procedure, active cancer, compromised immune system, unstable diabetes or angina, schizophrenia, seizure induced by previous medical procedure or epilepsy, irregular heart beats, heart valve disease, recent cardiac surgery, heart valve disease, or cardiac arrhythmias, allergy to nickel or chromium.
Is It Acupuncture?
No, dry needling is not acupuncture, which is based on traditional Chinese medicine performed by acupuncturists. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years and the belief behind acupuncture is that nerve stimulation opens the patient’s energy flow, often called chi, and it is based on specific points in the body.
Physical therapists who dry needle use the same type of thin filament needles as acupuncturists but the placement of needles are based on anatomy of the body and palpation of muscles.
