What is dry needling anyway?
So you've seen my posts, maybe you’ve heard about it from a friend or family member, there’s lots of hype around dry needling. Maybe you’ve thought, “isn’t that acupuncture?”, or even “what is that?” Well, it’s your lucky day! Today I’m going to talk about what exactly dry needling is, why you may or may not need it, and yes, I will answer the question, “Does it hurt?”
Dry needling versus acupuncture: what’s the difference?
The word “acupuncture” is derived from the latin prefix “acu” meaning point, and “punctura”, the verb for making a small hole. Ancient acupuncture Acupuncture as we know it today is a traditional Chinese medicine, where needles are inserted into meridians in an attempt to balance the energy within the body. Dry needling falls under the category of Western Medical Acupuncture (WMA), and needles are inserted into muscle, ligament, tendon, and/or joint spaces. Dry needling is completed by physical therapists, doctors, athletic trainers, and chiropractors; all of whom have advanced degrees from accredited colleges and licensed by the state he/she practices in. Think of it this way: the only thing that is the same is the physical needles.
What does dry needling do?
Dry needling is used to treat various musculoskeletal conditions including (but not limited to): tendinitis/tendinopathy, sprains/strains, osteoarthritis, chronic pain, myofascial pain, swelling, and weakness. Symptoms can be a result of an acute injury or a chronic problem related to repetitive use or postures. Research has shown that dry needling reduces local and referred pain, improves range of motion, reduces peripheral and central sensitization and speeds up the recovery process. It can increase blood flow and stimulate the release of seratonin and beta-adrenalin, which reduce pain.
What are contraindications to dry needling?
As with most manual techniques, there are contraindications. If you have any of the following conditions, dry needling is not for you:
metal allergy
skin lesions/rashes
blood disease (lymphoma, leukemia, severe aplastic anemia
true needle phobia
cancerous tissues
true lymphedema
moderate-severe scoliosis (only if treating the low back)
spina bifida (only if treating the low back)
laminectomy/laminotomy (only if treating the low back)
transplant patients
implants
cognitive/communicative impairments
compromised immune system (HIV, AIDs, viral infection)
pregnancy
Are there side effects?
There are potential side effects associated with dry needling, but the most common ones are very mild. You can expect bruising, pain and soreness during and after treatment, and often a parasympathetic effect, meaning you may feel relaxed, fatigued, and/or sweaty and anxious. In very few cases, pneumothorax has occurred, however, clinicians are trained to avoid any area where this risk would be warranted. Unfortunately that does mean that I am not able to treat mid-back pain (between shoulder blades) with DN. We can do other techniques here, including cupping, instrument-assisted massage, and joint mobilization.
You’ve booked a dry needling session, now what?
When you come in for either a evaluation or strictly DN session, we will start with a history of your pain and any medical conditions. Specifically with DN it is important to make sure you do not have any contraindications. We will then review expectations, and set you up in a comfortable position to begin treatment. Each body part will take 10-15 minutes, and typically followed up with other manual therapy including massage, joint mobilization, and taping as deemed appropriate. If at any time during treatment you become anxious or change your mind, needles can be pulled and alternative techniques can be used. My goal is that you leave your session with me feeling better, and we will accomplish that in any way necessary.