Chartered Physiotherapist, Rob Hanley, uses both acupuncture and dry needling in his daily practice. Here he takes us through the most common questions he gets on these two types of treatment.
20 years ago, dry needling was not a common service offered in Ireland. In recent years, the pool of research behind it has grown considerably and it can be very helpful in treating a whole host of problems. These are the top 5 questions I get asked each day on dry needling.
What is Dry Needling?
The history of dry needling began with the ground breaking work of Dr. Janet Travell and Dr. David Simmons. They discovered that trigger points or “knots” can exist all over the body and can be a crucial factor in many types of pain. They mapped these points and found they pressed on them with their hands, as a stronger technique, placed a very fine needle into the knot, they could release the tension and help relieve pain.
What is a Trigger Point?
A trigger point is a super tender point in a muscle, commonly called a “knot”. This area can become painful and can also send referred pain to other body parts in very predictable patterns. Good examples are trigger points in your neck can cause headaches or points in your back can cause pain in your legs.
Will it Hurt?
Generally, nothing is felt on inserting the needle. It’s just too thin. When the needle touches the trigger point or knot, many people describe it as an ache or cramping sensation but this is good.
Is it Different to Acupuncture?
It’s quite similar. The same, sterile needles are used as in acupuncture. Many of the points we treat are the same too but the technique of how the needle is used differs. Acupuncture tends to be a bit more gentle and there are some treatment points that are unique to acupuncture alone. For this reason, I like to incorporate both techniques.
What Problems Can it Help With?
Dry needling can benefit a whole host of conditions from:
- Muscle tightness
- Muscle pain & spasms
- Tendinitis
- Joint pain
- Low back & neck pain
- Sciatica
- Acute & chronic pain
- Headaches
Our Chartered Physiotherapists are experts in dry needling so we’d love to answer any questions you have. You can contact us by phone, email, or by dropping in to us in clinic.