Our Sports Therapist Hannah has just become certified to carry out Dry Needling at Pyramid Health. If you’ve previously benefitted from needle therapy, or even if you’re just acu-curious and wondering whether it’s something that could help with your complaint, read on!

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry Needling involves inserting very thin, sterile needles into trigger points and tight muscles without injecting any substance, hence the term "dry". Dry needling is often described as “Western Acupuncture”; it differs from traditional Chinese acupuncture in a few ways.

Although its origins are in Eastern medicine, Dry Needling concepts have been developed from scientific, research-based findings as well as Western medicine concepts. Dry Needling specifically targets musculoskeletal issues whereas Chinese acupuncture tends to take more of a holistic approach to healing, following the Eastern idea of body meridians.

What Does Dry Needling Do?

Dry needling another tool that manual practitioners can use to help relieve tension, improve movement and reduce healing times from injuries. Dry needling has been shown to:

• Relieve muscle pain

• Reduce muscle tightness

• Improve range of motion

It can be particularly effective in those patients who are less able to tolerate movement or large amounts of massage or manipulation. It often proves popular in people who are suffering with pain related to hip or knee arthritis, but dry needling can be an effective tool for treating just about any complaint you might see a manual therapist for. Things like back pain, neck pain, shoulder complaints and more can all be treated using Dry Needling.

How Does Dry Needling Work?

The process involves inserting needles into muscle trigger points to stimulate a twitch response. This can help reduce muscle spasms, interrupt pain signals, and improve healing by promoting local blood flow. You may notice a muscle “flicker” during the treatment, this is a normal reaction and can be a sign that the muscle is responding to the stimulation.

What Are Trigger Points?

Trigger points are specific areas in the muscle that are “hyper-irritable”: very tight and tender, with the ability to cause pain in other areas of the body (tension headaches, for example, can be caused by trigger points in neck muscles). Dry needling directly targets these trigger points to release the tension and alleviate discomfort.

Is Dry Needling Safe?

Yes, Dry Needling is safe, minimally painful and often a very effective technique for people with certain musculoskeletal conditions. The few risks of dry needling include infection, bleeding, bruising and pain but serious side effects are very rare, and infection risk is managed by using single-wrapped, sterilised needles. 

Does Dry Needling Hurt?

Dry needling can cause some discomfort, but the level of pain varies depending on individual sensitivity and the treatment area.

During Needle Insertion:

• The needles used are very thin, so you may feel a slight pinch or prick during the insertion

• Some people feel little to no pain at this stage

Muscle Response:

• When targeting trigger points, you may feel a twitch or muscle contraction especially when the needles hit these points.

• This sensation is known as a local twitch response, can be uncomfortable but is often described as a quick, sharp ache that fades quickly.

After Treatment:

• Some soreness is common in the treated area, but this usually subsides within 24-48 hours.

• Occasionally, mild bruising or sensitivity at the needles sites can occur.

Most people tolerate dry needling well, and many find the relief from tension and pain outweighs any temporary discomfort. Communicating openly with your practitioner can help tailor the experience to your comfort level.

Can Dry Needling Be Used With Other Techniques?

Yes! Dry Needling can work on its own, but like most other techniques, it will be used to complement treatments like massage and exercise therapy. 

We’re very excited to be able to offer Dry Needling to all our patients following Hannah’s recent training. Simply book a Sports Therapy consultation online or over the phone today and you can experience the benefits of Dry Needling yourself!