Dry needling, also known as intramuscular stimulation, is a very effective technique used by myotherapists to ease pain and decrease tension in the muscles.
Whilst seeming similar to acupuncture – which is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment – dry needling is a western treatment modality with its own theoretical concepts, research, techniques and terminology, and the two therapies couldn’t be more different from each other.
Dry needling as a treatment modality was first explored when researchers were studying the effect of painkiller and saline injections into a pain site. While treating their patients they noticed something surprising – the patients reported decreased pain and tension even when nothing was injected – which is where the term ‘dry’ needling came from, as opposed to to ‘wet’ needling where a liquid substance is injected.
Since then, following decades of research, dry needling is now considered an effective and minimally invasive treatment for muscular pain and dysfunction.
Since every body is different, and your body responds differently to various types of therapy, you might find needling to be particularly effective in relieving your muscular-skeletal issues. Needles would not be used exclusively within in a treatment, but in conjunction with other therapies such as deep tissue massage and myofascial release techniques.
During a treatment, sterile single-use needles are inserted painlessly into specific points in the body, which provokes a response from the fascia called the ‘twitch response’, where the muscle is stimulated, and subsequently relaxes.
Your therapist may utilize electro-needling where appropriate, and attach tiny cables to the needles, sending very mild electrical current through to the muscles. Electro-needling has been shown to reduce pain as well as improve blood circulation, and aid with the distribution of your bodies natural painkillers – endorphins and opioids.
The therapists at Forster Myotherapy are experienced and highly trained practitioners of dry needling. To book an appointment, click here to book online, or call us on 0255931265.