For some, getting poked with needles is an absolute nightmare, but for others, it provides much needed pain relief. The use of needling in medicine has been around for centuries, and dry needling is an extension of this practice. Here are some facts you should know before trying it for yourself:
What is dry needling?
Dry needling is performed with thin filiform needles, like those used for acupuncture, and fluid is not injected along with it. The needle penetrates the skin and stimulates myofascial trigger points to help with managing neuromusculoskeletal disorders.
What is a myofascial trigger point?
A myofascial trigger point is a tight band of skeletal muscle that when touched, stretched, or contracted causes pain in a localized spot or in surrounding areas of the body.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
While the needles used are often the same, dry needling and acupuncture are very different treatments. Both are performed by professionals but with different goals in mind due to the root of their philosophies. Dry needling is based in Western medicine with the goal of releasing muscle tension and mitigating pain in symptomatic areas, while acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine’s holistic approach to wellness. Most often, this is performed by a certified physical therapist and is primarily used to treat musculoskeletal pain. Acupuncture, however, treats a much wider range of ailments such as migraines/headaches, depression, sciatica, and hypertension.
Does it help?
Current research is minimal, as the use of dry needling is only recently becoming more popular. Regardless, studies have found that using dry needling to reduce muscle tension or pain has proven effective but often only for a short period of time. Differences in depth of needle placement, location of placement, and number of sessions lead to variability in the effectiveness of the treatment. Further, it is often coupled with other therapies in an individual’s treatment plan, which contributes to the differing results from person to person.
