DRY NEEDLING
Definition
what is dry needling?
Dry needling is performed since 1996 in Switzerland by trained experts. It is a highly effective technique for the treatment of trigger points. With this technique, the same needles are utilized as with acupuncture, but the muscle is pricked at the trigger point. The term is called “dry” needling, because no medication is administered with the needle. Dry needling therapists are extremely experienced in locating the trigger points by palpation and also know the risks of this technique and what to look out for – hence the application is always safe. It will only be applied with patient consent, of course. The patient is asked for any contra indications before commencing the therapy. Of the prick of the disposable needle is hardly noticed by the patient. Further inserting leads to the tension point of the muscle, which can be uncomfortable and result in heavy muscle twitching.
Definition
what is dry needling?
Dry needling is performed since 1996 in Switzerland by trained experts. It is a highly effective technique for the treatment of trigger points. With this technique, the same needles are utilized as with acupuncture, but the muscle is pricked at the trigger point. The term is called “dry” needling, because no medication is administered with the needle. Dry needling therapists are extremely experienced in locating the trigger points by palpation and also know the risks of this technique and what to look out for – hence the application is always safe. It will only be applied with patient consent, of course. The patient is asked for any contra indications before commencing the therapy. Of the prick of the disposable needle is hardly noticed by the patient. Further inserting leads to the tension point of the muscle, which can be uncomfortable and result in heavy muscle twitching.
Therapy
when is dry needling applied?
Primary trigger point
Primary (active) trigger points are pressure sensitive areas within a sticky muscle, often with tense fibers. Symptoms can often be triggered with pressure to a single point and tend to radiate. Patients describe the pain both in resting as in activity during anamnesis. This relates to the common active trigger points. Typically trigger points can be found around the pelvic crest and on the outer side of the leg, radiating into the foot. Cause for active trigger points are often constant tension of the muscles, as inflicted by today’s society: Sitting at a computer or standing at a desk are single-sided strains which ask the same muscles to work statically, leading to chronically leveraged tension.
Secondary trigger points.
Additionally there are secondary trigger points. These form when one or more systems of a musculoskeletal system do not work properly. For example, if a joint cannot glide properly, a muscle will force this gliding to ensure a human can move normally. But this wears out the muscle, keeping the tension constantly at a very high level, which leads to so-called sticky muscles with high tension, resulting in trigger points.
Studies confirm that untended trigger points are often the cause for radiating chronic pains. They are often overlooked as trigger points in the lower back show similar symptoms to a slipped disc and disc hernias.
The mechanism after puncturing can be explained with the dissolving of the stickiness. Additionally the micro trauma is registered in the brain, initializing increased circulation. The healing process is kicked-off and tensions dissolve. One to five sessions are required.
Therapy
when is dry needling applied?
Primary trigger point
Primary (active) trigger points are pressure sensitive areas within a sticky muscle, often with tense fibers. Symptoms can often be triggered with pressure to a single point and tend to radiate. Patients describe the pain both in resting as in activity during anamnesis. This relates to the common active trigger points. Typically trigger points can be found around the pelvic crest and on the outer side of the leg, radiating into the foot. Cause for active trigger points are often constant tension of the muscles, as inflicted by today’s society: Sitting at a computer or standing at a desk are single-sided strains which ask the same muscles to work statically, leading to chronically leveraged tension.
Secondary trigger points.
Additionally there are secondary trigger points. These form when one or more systems of a musculoskeletal system do not work properly. For example, if a joint cannot glide properly, a muscle will force this gliding to ensure a human can move normally. But this wears out the muscle, keeping the tension constantly at a very high level, which leads to so-called sticky muscles with high tension, resulting in trigger points.
Studies confirm that untended trigger points are often the cause for radiating chronic pains. They are often overlooked as trigger points in the lower back show similar symptoms to a slipped disc and disc hernias.
The mechanism after puncturing can be explained with the dissolving of the stickiness. Additionally the micro trauma is registered in the brain, initializing increased circulation. The healing process is kicked-off and tensions dissolve. One to five sessions are required.
Combinability with other concepts of physiotherapy is completely possible with dry needling. The patient should understand that a day or two after a dry needling session only a reduced amount of sport can be performed with the treated muscle or body part. Additionally blunt muscle aching is often to be expected.
General rule of thumb: The sooner an issue with a trigger point is recognized and treated, the higher the chances of a maximized healing process can be achieved.
Please note that the techniques of dry needling utilizes the same needles as acupuncture. This is about the only similarity, as both invasive treatments have a different background. As described above, dry needling targets the trigger (pain) point, meaning directly into the cause or symptom area. In Acupuncture, meridians are targeted, to achieve direct energy flow within the organism. Most treatable ailments differ greatly between both techniques
Combinability with other concepts of physiotherapy is completely possible with dry needling. The patient should understand that a day or two after a dry needling session only a reduced amount of sport can be performed with the treated muscle or body part. Additionally blunt muscle aching is often to be expected.
General rule of thumb: The sooner an issue with a trigger point is recognized and treated, the higher the chances of a maximized healing process can be achieved.
Please note that the techniques of dry needling utilizes the same needles as acupuncture. This is about the only similarity, as both invasive treatments have a different background. As described above, dry needling targets the trigger (pain) point, meaning directly into the cause or symptom area. In Acupuncture, meridians are targeted, to achieve direct energy flow within the organism. Most treatable ailments differ greatly between both techniques