When it comes to using needles for physical therapy, you may be thinking of acupuncture – a form of alternative medicine used to alleviate pain and treat various conditions. A far better alternative to acupuncture is dry needling, which is a modern approach of inserting syringes directly into muscle knots. This solution is a safe and effective treatment carried out by a licensed physical therapist for the reduction of pain and muscle tension.
In this article, we’ll share with you what you need to know about dry needling, particularly what it is, how it works, and its various health benefits.
Dry needling in a nutshell
First, you must understand that dry needling is an alternative form of medicine that whilst adopted from acupuncture, differs entirely.Dry needling is based on a modern scientific study of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems. This current treatment is primarily designed to ease muscular pain and tension, essentially performed by a physical therapist.
Also known as trigger point dry needling or intramuscular manual therapy, this invasive procedure entails the use of fine needles inserted through the skin into the muscle. This safe and effective method is said to address numerous musculoskeletal issues, such as muscle spasms, neck pain, back pain, headache, and injuries.
How dry needling works
If you’re wondering how it works, physical therapists typically use dry needles that will be inserted through the skin, into the underlying tendons, ligaments, or muscles that are affected. They do this to release or inactivate trigger points as a way to relieve pain, decrease muscle tension, and improve motion range. However, take note that this modern approach is strictly based on Western medicine principles and various researches.
Benefits of dry needling
As mentioned above, dry needling is designed to address a wide variety of musculoskeletal issues. The specific benefits derived from dry needling are as follows:
- Chronic pain relief: Whether you are suffering from acute or chronic conditions, dry needling is used as part of more extensive treatment. It works to alleviate pain on the sciatic nerves, plantar fasciitis, elbow, back, shoulder, neck, head, and other areas of the body.
- Muscle tension reduction: Needles are inserted into the identified knots to help restore the muscles, and this acts as a reset button for them.
- Mobility improvement: With pain reduction and improved blood circulation, it will significantly restore your range of motion. All mobility issues will be addressed, which improves your daily activities.
- Improved blood circulation: Keep in mind that tight muscles cause some pain and obstruct the blood flow. Through dry needling, it will effectively relax your muscles, allowing your blood to flow smoothly.
- Normal functioning: As this treatment helps relax your muscles and reduces pain, you can improve your movements, resolve muscle problems, and get back on a normal function. Ultimately, it will significantly improve the overall quality of your life!
Conclusion
At this point, you now know what dry needling entails and how it works. To that end, be sure to consider all the valuable information mentioned above and take advantage of its various benefits—chronic pain relief, reduction of muscle tension, blood circulation, improved mobility, and restoration of normal functioning. With all these valuable benefits, you have all the right reasons to try dry needling for the good of your body and overall health!
Here at Anytime Physio, we offer a wide range of physiotherapy services in Brisbane, tailored to suit your specific needs. We also provide services like podiatry, remedial massage, clinical Pilates, and lymphatic drainage massage, among others. If you are specifically looking for professional dry needling treatment, get in touch with us to book an appointment or learn more about our services!
