Stress is unavoidable today due to work pressure, financial instability, or social expectations. With so much pressure, there’s only so long before your body finally breaks down. Headaches, muscle spasms, a sore neck, or general stiffness are the signs that your body needs time to rest and bounce back. If you suffer from stubborn pain and muscle tightness that just won’t go away, the dry needling technique might be the treatment to release pain from trigger points and improve mobility.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a popular treatment procedure for myofascial trigger points. It reduces pain signal transmission in the spinal cord and increases the release of endogenous opioids, pain-relieving chemicals, in the brain. Therapists use two types of dry needling to alleviate pain from the afflicted muscle, improve blood flow, and release pain:
- Superficial Dry Needling (SDN) - Thin needles are inserted into 10mm deep skin, targeting the subcutaneous tissue above a myofascial trigger point
- Deep Dry Needling (DDN) - Needles are inserted beyond the subcutaneous tissue and directly into the muscles to target myofascial trigger points
Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture: What’s the Difference?
While both techniques involve using thin needles to puncture the skin for pain relief, dry needling attempts to release pressure from knots and pressure points, and acupuncture aligns an individual’s chi or qi (energy) flow to promote relaxation. Refer to the table below to understand the key differences between the two.
|
Factors |
Dry Needling |
Acupuncture |
|
Origin |
20th-century Western medicine |
2,000-year-old Chinese medicine |
|
Philosophy |
Based on the human anatomy and neuromuscular principles |
Based on qi (energy) flow |
|
Purpose |
Reduces pain, improves movement, and relaxes the trigger points |
Treats musculoskeletal pain and balances energy to treat various conditions |
|
Insertion Points |
Tight muscles, knots, and trigger points |
Meridian points across the body |
|
Technique |
Deeper insertion into the muscle tissues |
The insertion depth depends on energy flow and meridian maps |
|
Benefits |
- Quick sessions - Immediate muscle relief - Improved range of motion - Faster healing - Increased function |
- Stress reduction - Holistic healing - Treats multiple conditions - Improved sleep and relaxation |
|
Risks |
- Bruising - Twitching - Soreness - Nerve damage (rare case) |
- Dizziness - Minor bleeding - Infection (low risk) |
|
Conditions Treated |
- Muscle spasm and tightness - Sports injuries - Joint pain |
- Insomnia - Stress and anxiety - Migraines - Chronic pain - Digestive issues |
|
Preferences |
Preferred by individuals seeking quick pain relief |
Preferred by people looking for holistic and natural practices |
|
Training |
Performed by trained professionals and physical therapists |
Practised by individuals with certifications in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) |
How Dry Needling Helps Relieve Pain
Whether you have suffered an injury or are struggling with motion after a critical surgery, dry needling can relax the nerves and improve blood circulation to restore movement and accelerate recovery.
Targeting Trigger Points and Muscle Tension
Dry needling focuses on relieving pain from myofascial trigger points, which cause chronic pain and muscle dysfunction. Inserting a nail into each trigger point causes a twitching sensation, gradually releasing tension and pain, and improving muscle function.
Improving Blood Flow and Promoting Healing
Tight muscles restrict proper blood circulation, increasing inflammation and discomfort, thus delaying healing. Dry needling creates minor injuries within the muscle, prompting the body to stimulate more blood to the area for faster healing, improved circulation, and reduced local inflammation.
Supporting Nervous System Regulation
External factors don’t always cause pain; the nervous system can also trigger it. Dry needling into the muscle helps to disrupt the pain signals, stimulate the release of endorphins, and reduce nerve sensitivity. This neurological response is highly beneficial for chronic pain sufferers.
Common Conditions Treated with Dry Needling
Stimulating trigger points with dry needling can increase blood circulation in those areas and promote healing. Conditions that may be treated by dry needling include joint, night cramps, spinal, and disk issues. Let’s elaborate with some examples below.
Chronic Back/Neck Pain
Chronic back and neck pain, which means persistent sharp pain, restricted movement, or muscle tightness, stems from excessive muscle use and poor posture. Inserting needles in overstressed rhomboids, trapezius, and paraspinal muscles deactivates pain-referral patterns, reduces ischemia, and improves blood flow. This procedure enhances posture, restores muscle tone, and reduces reliance on painkillers.
Sports Injuries
Athletes and physically active individuals suffer from serious injuries like runner’s knee, rotator cuff strain, tennis elbow, and hamstring injuries due to muscle overuse. Inserting thin needles helps to reduce protective muscle guarding, reset neuromuscular activity to normalise muscle function, restore joint mechanics, and accelerate tissue repair.
Headaches/Migraines
Migraine-related muscle tension can cause severe headaches, eye strain, stiff neck/shoulders, and scalp tenderness. Dry needling targets the trigger points in the suboccipital, temporalis, SCM, and upper trapezius muscles to release myofascial tension, reset the neural feedback loops, and stimulate more circulation in the head and neck to reduce the pain intensity and improve mobility.
Joint and Muscle Pain
Joint and muscle pain, often caused by muscle imbalance and tightness in joints, can limit movement and reduce muscle strength. Dry needling supports corrective exercise therapies to release overactive muscles and improve motion and joint loading. The procedure promotes long-term pain management for improved nerve function and reduced irritation.
What to Expect During a Dry Needling Session
The mere thought of needles pricking your muscles can make you feel sick to the stomach if you have trypanophobia. But don’t worry. Things are not as painful as you might think. Here’s what exactly goes on inside the therapy room.
Initial Assessment by a Therapist
Before the treatment, the practitioner will review your medical history and perform a medical exam to determine if dry needling is right for your condition. For example, dry needling is strictly not recommended for individuals with diabetes, cancer, vascular diseases, abnormal bleeding conditions, epilepsy, or pregnancy. If the results of the review suit dry needling, the practitioner will explain the procedure and answer your questions.
Treatment Process and Sensations
Next, they sterilise the area and prepare sterile, single-use needles. Then, they use one hand to feel the trigger points and the other to place the needle around a plastic tube covering the area. The plastic tube helps to maintain accuracy while tapping the needle into the trigger points. You might feel slight twitching and muscle soreness during the treatment, but that is normal. It’s a sign that your muscles are responding to the treatment.
Duration, Frequency & Aftercare Tips
Depending on the chosen technique, superficial or deep, the provider will leave the needle in the muscle for some time, ranging from 2 seconds to 20 minutes. The number of needles will depend on your condition and response to the therapy. For instance, a practitioner usually uses 10-15 needles to treat back pain.
Once the procedure is complete, you might experience increased muscle soreness for 24 to 36 hours. You could also experience dizziness and see some bruising, which will heal within a week. Also, drink plenty of water to flush out toxins and avoid strenuous activities. To prevent soreness, use a cold or warm compress for relief.
For individuals with acute/subacute conditions, the first session’s response typically lasts 2-3 days. For less severe cases, the response might last weeks or months. If you have chronic pain, you might require 3-4 weekly treatments.
Benefits of Choosing Dry Needling in Melbourne
Unsure about booking this much-needed therapeutic session? Here are some advantages you need to consider:
Drug-Free Pain Relief
Dry needling is a great option for individuals who want to heal trigger points and release muscle tension without relying on long-term painkillers or medications. Unlike drugs and medical steroids, dry needling has no side effects and does not interfere with regular medicines.
Fast and Effective Results
Individuals suffering from chronic pain look for quick relief for painless movement, and dry needling does just that. It accelerates healing by increasing blood circulation, reducing inflammation, and improving muscle function by releasing the knots.
Support for a Wide Range of Conditions
Dry needling procedures are suitable for chronic and subacute muscle injuries, including lower back pain, postural dysfunction, migraines, plantar fasciitis, sports injuries, soft tissue injuries, and TMJ dysfunction.
Is Dry Needling Right for You?
Deciding if dry needling treatment is the best for you will depend on your condition and personal preferences. If you want instant pain relief with improved movement, dry needling would be right for you. Consider seeking professional help to understand if dry needling will benefit your condition, and sign up for the appropriate care.
Maximise Dry Needling With Advanced Osteopathy
Advanced osteopathy is a holistic approach that focuses on the body structure and function and uses manual therapy techniques to address biochemical imbalances and improve circulation and mobility. Integrating it with dry needling will ensure:
- Accelerated recovery
- Deep muscular release and biomechanical correction
- Long-term pain management and mobility improvement
- Optimal healing environment
Book Your Dry Needling Session in Melbourne
Before you begin your sessions, it’s crucial to identify the trigger areas with the help of professionals. If you have been dealing with chronic muscle tension, sporting injuries, joint pain, or decreased muscle function, consult the support staff at Advance Osteopathy for personalised assistance. Our certified and experienced team tailors therapy sessions to meet your needs and help you move freely. Consult today!