Dry Needling
Dry needling, also known as medical acupuncture, is a treatment that primarily targets myofascial trigger points or tender areas that develop in muscles.
These trigger points can be highly sensitive and painful when touched. Sometimes, a trigger point may be near the location of your pain, but they can also cause referred pain, affecting other parts of your body.
Thin sterilised needles are inserted through your skin to treat underlying trigger points. These needles are solid and do not contain any medication, which is why the technique is called dry.
When a muscle is repeatedly used, it can go into an energy crisis where the muscle fibres do not receive adequate blood supply. This lack of oxygen and nutrients can lead to soreness and pain. By stimulating a trigger point with a needle, normal blood supply returns to flush out the area and release tension. The needle may be moved slightly to elicit a local twitch response, which is a quick spasm of the muscle. This response helps release tension and improve blood flow.
Sensation from the needle can also activate nerve fibres that stimulate your brain to release endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers.