You might have heard of dry needling as a technique for relaxation and relieving the body from pain, but then you think of needles and how they pinch. You then ask yourself how is experiencing pain in your body supposed to make you relax.
Well, this is what health experts have to say about this treatment.
The Cleveland Clinic defines dry needling as a technique used by healthcare providers to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement issues, often as part of a larger pain management plan.
“During this treatment, a provider inserts thin, sharp needles through your skin to treat underlying myofascial trigger points.”
Cleveland continues to explain that trigger points are knotted tender areas that develop in your muscles, which can cause pain affecting other parts of the body. The Mayo Clinic adds that trigger points are caused by injury, overuse, or poor movement patterns.
Benefits of dry needling
Fast pain relief: Prolete, an online publication for physical therapy and sports medicine, states that dry needling improves pain by relaxing knots and improving blood flow. “Your pain improves as the knot relaxes and blood flow improves. Better circulation means that painful, acidic wastes get carried away while your muscles receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal.”
Additionally, the publication claims that treatment depends on severity and number of trigger points, with some patients experiencing immediate relief after one session.
Restores mobility: According to the publication above, dry needling and physical therapy can help restore range of motion and prevent future trigger points by rebuilding strength and retraining muscles, thereby preventing muscle weakness and loss of mass.
Targeted: Dry needling is a targeted treatment method that involves a thorough physical evaluation and scientific understanding of anatomy and pain pathology, unlike deep massage, which relies on inner energy concepts, states One Accord Pain & Injury Solutions.
Also see: The benefits and risks of acupuncture
