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RMADN - Apr 14, 2023
If you're dealing with chronic pain, you may have heard of dry needling. This therapy involves putting thin needles into your skin and muscles to ease pain and increase your range of motion. One important part of dry needling is finding trigger points, and a trigger point chart can help with that. In this article, we'll talk about what trigger points are, how dry needling works, and how to use a trigger point chart.
So, what exactly are trigger points? They're spots in your muscles that can cause pain, stiffness, and limited movement. They can happen for various reasons, such as poor posture or an injury. Trigger points are often linked to a condition called myofascial pain syndrome, which involves chronic pain in your muscles and connective tissues. Trigger points can be either active or latent - active trigger points hurt even when your muscle is resting, while latent trigger points only hurt when pressure is applied. Dry needling can help both kinds of trigger points.
Dry needling is a type of therapy where a therapist will find trigger points in your muscles and use a thin needle to release the tension. This is different from acupuncture, which focuses on balancing your body's energy and uses thicker needles. During a dry needling session, the therapist will manipulate the needle to create a twitch response that helps release tension in your muscle. It's usually less painful than acupuncture.
A trigger point chart is a visual guide that shows where trigger points are in your body. It displays the muscles and indicates where trigger points are commonly found. The chart can also show referral patterns, which means where you might feel pain from a trigger point in a different spot.
Using a trigger point chart can help you find the right places to insert needles.
Remember that dry needling should only be done by a qualified healthcare professional.
Overall, dry needling can be a useful treatment for chronic pain, especially when trigger points are involved. If you think it might be a good option for you, make sure to consult with a healthcare professional first. And if you're looking for a qualified provider, consider booking an appointment with RMADN.