What is Dry Needling?
What is Myofascial Dry Needling?
Myofascial Dry Needling is a technique which uses thin needles to treat pain and dysfunction in the body’s myofascial (muscle and connective tissue) system. An osteopath that does dry needling has undergone specific training, and uses their knowledge of anatomy and highly skilled palpation skills to treat Myofascial Trigger Points.
What is a Myofascial Trigger Point?
A trigger point is a painful and sensitive spot in a tight band of muscle that are tender to touch - it’s what you are actually describing when you complain of a “knot” in your back! They can cause pain, a decrease in movement, weakness and can refer pain to other areas of the body.
How does it work?
Local Effects
Inserting the needle into a specific structure (specifically, a Myofascial Trigger Point) increases blood flow to the area and invokes the body’s normal injury (local inflammatory) response and subsequent tissue healing. This can lead to muscle relaxation.
Spinal Segmental Effects
When a needle is inserted into a particular structure, it not only has an effect at the location, but also the spinal level that the structure correlates to. This in turn down-regulates the pain signals from the spinal cord and leads to less pain perceived overall.
What Conditions can Dry Needling help?
Dry Needling can be used for most muskuloskeletal injuries and pain. Your Osteopath will help decide if it’s appropriate in your particular case.
Some common injuries/pathologies that needling can help with include:
Acute neck and back pain
Lumbar disc bulge and nerve pain
Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
Tension (trigger points) in the neck and shoulders
Ankle instability
Shoulder injuries
Fibromyalgia
Trochanteric bursitis
Heel pain (plantar fascia pain)
Post operative pain
Our osteopaths who offer dry needling have undergone extra training. If you are after this specifically in your treatment, please make sure to book in with Emma, Mimi, Gabrielle or Cameron. If you would like to speak to any of our friendly team about dry needling further, please give us a call!