You may have a trigger point if you have little knots or marbles under your skin that become sensitive to touch and cause significant pain. In addition, poor posture, repetitive motions, and acute muscle injury cause trigger points, which are most common in the back, shoulder, and hips.
Fortunately, dry needling can release these trigger points to reduce pain, relieve muscle tension, and improve the range of motion. Although dry needling involves needles, the treatment is not painful. You may only feel a twitch when the needle is inserted.
This article discusses dry needling in detail, including the treatment’s benefits, the conditions it treats, and the candidacy.
Dry Needling Physiotherapy Overview
Dry needling physiotherapy in Surrey and Richmond is a treatment that involves the use of one or more thin needles to relieve a muscle trigger point. A trigger point is a band of tight and irritable muscle tissue resulting from injury, poor posture, and muscle overuse. Without proper treatment, trigger points can cause pain and tenderness and restrict your range of motion.
When applied to a trigger point, dry needling increases blood flow, reduces pain, and decreases muscle tightness. Although multiple sessions are necessary for total relief, patients usually report immediate relief after the first session. Usually, your physiotherapist will recommend exercise and other physiotherapy techniques in addition to dry needling to prevent a recurrence of trigger points.
Is Dry Needling the Same as Acupuncture?
Although dry needling and acupuncture require needles to relieve muscle tension and treat symptoms, they differ. For instance, acupuncture has been used for about 3,000 years and is a critical component of traditional Chinese medicine. This treatment balances the energy flow in the body through pathways called meridians.
Dry needling, on the other hand, is a relatively new treatment. This treatment method releases trigger points to relieve musculoskeletal and neuromuscular pain. In addition, this treatment method does not use as many needles as acupuncture. It is also often accompanied by electric stimulation to promote the contraction and relaxation of tight muscles.
What are the Benefits of Dry Needling Physiotherapy?
The primary benefit of dry needling is reducing pain by deactivating trigger points. Therefore, it improves blood circulation and relieves nerve tension and pressure. Other benefits of dry-needling physiotherapy in Surrey and Richmond, BC, include;
Accelerated Recovery
Dry needling releases the trigger points to improve blood flow and reduces inflammation. This triggers the body’s healing response by releasing natural pain relievers like endorphins. Endorphins act as analgesics and reduce the perception of pain.
Improved Range of Motion
Trigger points cause pain and hinder movement, reducing your mobility. Unfortunately, muscles become weak and lose their mass when inactive. However, your physiotherapist can find trigger points and insert the needles to release tension. Additionally, dry needling and a specialized physiotherapy program can improve your range of motion and help rebuild your strength.
Safety
Although dry needling uses needles, the procedure is safe and minimally invasive. Each session lasts about 30 minutes, and you may need two to three sessions or more, depending on your condition. In addition, the procedure has a low risk of complications, primarily when performed by a physiotherapist in Richmond.
What are the Downsides of Dry Needling Physiotherapy?
Although dry needling relieves pain and improves your range of motion, the procedure still has downsides. Usually, the side effects are often mild. The downsides of dry needling include discomfort and bruising at the insertion site.
Upon inserting the needles, you may feel a slight discomfort at the beginning of a dry needling treatment. And this is because the muscles are still tight. However, as the trigger point becomes loose, the pain decreases.
Depending on your skin’s sensitivity, you may also experience bruising at the insertion site. There is also an increased risk of bleeding if you are on blood thinners or have blood vessel problems. Nevertheless, bruising is rare and is temporary in patients that experience it.
What Conditions Does Dry Needling Treat?
Dry needling releases tight muscles, and it is used in addition to other physiotherapy techniques to treat;
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Joint pain
- Muscle strains
- Whiplash
- Pelvic pain
- Tendinitis
- Calf strains
- Migraines
- Spinal dysfunction
- Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)
Is Dry Needling Suitable for Everyone?
Although dry needling solves numerous conditions, it is not suitable for everyone. For instance, because the treatment can be painful, it is not recommended for children under 12. Other people that cannot get dry needling are pregnant women, people with a phobia for needles, or people on blood thinners.
In addition, if you don’t understand the treatment, have a medical emergency, have diabetes, allergies, or epilepsy, dry needling therapy is not suitable for you.
Should You Get Dry Needling Physiotherapy in Richmond, BC?
Cambie physiotherapy offers several physiotherapy treatments, including dry needling, to relieve your pain and improve your well-being. In addition, our experienced physiotherapists can find your injury and provide appropriate treatment if you feel pain anywhere.