Dry needling is a safe, minimally discomforting and effective technique for patients with certain musculoskeletal presentations. Dry needling is a treatment performed by skilled, trained Chartered Physiotherapists, certified in the procedure. A thin monofilament needle (an acupuncture needle) penetrates the skin and treats underlying muscular trigger points for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.
What is a trigger point? A trigger point is a local point of tension or tight band in a muscle fibre that can disrupt function, restrict range of motion, refer pain or cause local tenderness. When dry needling is applied to a dysfunctional muscle or trigger point, it can decrease banding or tightness, increase blood flow, and reduce local and referred pain.
Dry needling is not the same as acupuncture. It uses similar tools, but that’s where the similarities end. Dry needling is performed by different practitioners with different training. Acupuncture is based on Eastern medicine, while dry needling is rooted in Western medicine and evaluation of pain patterns, posture, movement impairments, function and orthopaedic tests.
Dry needling is used in conjunction with physiotherapy to reduce pain and promote healing and restoration of normal tissue function.
To find out if Dry Needling can help relief your pain and promote your injury recovery, call us on 01 8250151 or book now for an appointment with our expert Physiotherapists to get back to pain free living!