What is Dry Needling ?
Dry Needling involves the application of acupuncture needles into tight painful myofascial areas known as ‘Trigger Points’ to elicit a healing response in these tissues.
Dry Needling is different to traditional acupuncture as it is not necessarily aimed at specific acupuncture points, does not usually involve Meridians or relations to internal organs as does traditional acupuncture needling.
Dry needling has been proven to be a very effective way of relaxing spasmed muscles, reducing inflammation and relieving pain. For those of you who are intrigued as to how this actually occurs read on, if too much info bamboozles you, just enjoy the picture.
What is a Trigger Point ?
Trigger Point (TrP) – “ a hyperirritable spot of skeletal muscle that is associated with a hypersensitive nodule in a taut band” (Simons, Travell and Simons 1990)
- ActiveTrP’s can give rise to distinct pain referral patterns
- They exhibit local twitch response
- Muscles with TrPs appear tight, spasmed and often weak.
- Muscles with TrPs may have a reduced range of motion and the potential to change movement patterns
How does Dry Needling work ?
- Local Effects of needle penetration
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- A local Histamine type response similar to that whixh occurs after getting a splinter. The body elicits a healing response with increase blood flow and repair cell activation
- Segmental Effects
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- Desensitisation of the central nervous system
- Stimulation of certain nerve fibres that may block the pain messages reaching the central nervous system. “PAIN GATE THEORY”
Other Effects
- Neurohormonal System – neural effects stimulate Pituitary Gland – release of Endorphins and certain pain relieving hormones into Blood
- Autonomic Nervous system – Needling has been show to increase sympathetic outflow, reduce skin blood flow, increase blood flow to muscles and increase arterial blood pressure.
Click here to contact the friendly staff at MGS Physiotherapy with any questions or if you are interested in receiving Dry Needling.