How Does Dry Needling Work? Explained by Experts

RMADN - Feb 24, 2023

Therapists and other qualified healthcare professionals utilize the dry needling procedure to address musculoskeletal pain and mobility problems. It is typically employed as a component of a wider pain management strategy that may involve massage, exercise, and other methods. A healthcare professional will use tiny, pointed needles to treat your myofascial trigger points underneath your skin during this procedure.

Here’s a breakdown of how dry needling works wonders for your body.

<h2>Explanation of the Mechanism</h2>

Your muscle enters an energy crisis when it is overworked, which results in insufficient blood flow to the muscle fibers. Your muscles can't return to their usual resting condition if they don't receive regular blood flow, oxygen, and nourishment.

The tissue next to your trigger point gets more acidic as a result. Because of the sensitization of your nerves, the region is achy and unpleasant.

A trigger point can be stimulated with a needle to encourage the return of normal blood flow, which helps to clear the region and reduce stress. As a result of the prick, your brain may be stimulated to produce endorphins, your body's natural painkillers.

Your therapist will place a needle through the skin and right into a trigger point after they have found it. They may slightly adjust the needle in an effort to trigger a muscle spasm known as a local twitch response. This response may indicate that your muscles are responding.

Following a dry needling treatment, several patients experience an almost instantaneous relief in pain and mobility. Some people require more than one visit.

<h2>Scientific Research and Studies</h2>

There is a multitude of scientific research and studies that show dry-needling is highly effective when done by qualified professionals.

David M Kietrys, PHD, PT has researched the effects of dry needling for years and has noted in his findings as of 2013 that “based on the best currently available evidence (grade A), we recommend dry needling, compared to sham or placebo, for decreasing pain immediately after treatment.” He goes on to note that “additional well-designed studies are needed to support this recommendation.”

Fortunately, more and more research is being done around dry needling and its positive effects as it has become an increasingly more popular treatment method for relieving pain versus traditional Western medicine.

David Krey, James Borchers, and  Kendra McCamey of The Ohio State University Sports Medicine Center in Columbus, Ohio noted that “evidence suggests that tendon needling improves patient-reported outcome measures in patients with tendinopathy. There is a trend that shows that the addition of autologous blood products may further improve these outcomes.”

<h2>The Role of Trigger Points</h2>

Trigger point dry needling may seem unfamiliar to you, and you may be asking what it is and whether it hurts. Trigger point dry needling may seem frightening or unpleasant, yet it rarely feels uncomfortable.

Dry needling at trigger points is a drug-free procedure carried out by qualified, licensed, and experienced chiropractors, physicians, and physical therapists. In order to address underlying muscle trigger points or tense muscles, traumas, and discomfort, the practitioner penetrates the skin with a small monofilament needle. Several individuals' neuromusculoskeletal pain and mobility deficits have been shown to be reduced and improved by this method.

A region of restriction or tension in the muscle fibers known as a trigger point can impair motion or range of motion, alter function, and produce excruciating pain and soreness. These unpleasant, tight trigger points in a specific muscle are the focus of trigger point dry needling, which helps the muscle relax, improve blood flow, and reduce pain.

Many physicians don't address the root of the issue, and if your doctor only concentrates on rehab exercises, those won't work either because the trigger points' tension and discomfort haven't been relieved. We employ rehabilitation activities on a regular basis in our clinic, but relying just on one approach won't help patients recover more quickly.

A patient may experience a twitch in the muscle or pressure when the tension is released during a trigger point dry needling treatment, but they do not experience pain from the needles. Several individuals just experience a little discomfort, twitch, or pressure during the procedure instead of feeling the needles penetrate their skin.

The outcomes patients may achieve after a brief trigger point dry needling session are astounding. The kind of discomfort a patient is feeling helps us determine how long the injections should stay in the muscle. Needles can only be placed in place for a brief period for discomfort that is not severe in a muscle. We often leave the needles in for 10 to 15 minutes for more severe, deep muscular discomfort. You could feel pressure or twitching during that period, but the majority of individuals don't feel any discomfort.

<h2>Conclusion </h2>

It's crucial that your dry needling therapy be done by a licensed physical therapist. This guarantees both the safety of the process and that you get the most alleviation possible from each session. If you have any concerns regarding the dry-needling method or if it is an appropriate treatment choice for your chronic pain, please contact the physical therapists and welcoming staff at the RMADN, one of the best dry-needling clinics in Town Hall, Sydney.

How Does Dry Needling Work? Explained by Experts

Does Cupping Therapy Work for Sciatica? Simple Explain

How long does dry needling last? Reveal Duration