Services
Dry needling is similar to acupuncture. Small needles about 1/100th the size of a normal doctor’s needle are inserted into strategic locations in the body. They are used to treat muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, scar tissue, peripheral nerves, and neurovascular bundles for management of a variety of pain syndromes. They aren’t hollow like “wet needles” meaning they are not used to inject medications.
What Does Dry Needling Feel Like?
Most of the time little to nothing is felt when the needles are inserted unless the body part is extremely inflamed or they are placed over a few of the more tender spots on the body. In these cases they can “zing” a little.
A “deqi” response is the goal by the end of a dry needling treatment. This can be described as dull ache, heaviness, numbness, tingling, cramping, pressure, fullness, spreading, or temperature changes in the muscles. This is similar to the feeling of soreness after physical therapy or working out and lasts ~48 hours. For many it is very mild and most people don’t find it bothersome.
Needles are left in the tissue while the patient remains relaxed/resting for a duration of 10 to 30 minutes.
What Conditions Can Be Treated with Dry Needling?
How Does Dry Needling Work?
Dry needling causes a mechanical stimulation resulting in a local twitch response. This local twitch causes the spinal cord to reflex contract near the taught band of muscle fiber. This reduces the amount of painful substances that have accumulated in the area near trigger points. Also, acetylcholine is released back into the body, a chemical responsible for muscle spasms.
Dry needling creates an environment for increased collagen production and remodeling. The insertion of the needle causes immune cells to congregate and repair or replace the damaged myofibers. Muscle regeneration is accelerated.
Increases vasodilation which increases circulation and blood flow. This increases oxygen to the area.
Dry needling decreases cortisol and increases hyaluronic acid, a critical ingredient for joint health. It stimulates the release of the body’s natural opioids, cannabinoids, and endorphins. Dry needling can have a “systematic” effect on the rest of the body, not just the painful area.
How is Dry Needling Different Than Acupuncture?
Dry needling use many similar insertion points as acupuncture to treat the body. However, the emphasis is on the locations shown to improve the musculoskeletal system. Dry needling does not attempt to move “qi” along meridians, nor does it rely on Chinese or Oriental medicine diagnosis.
Who Should NOT Undergo Dry Needling?
Those who faint when having needles inserted. Caution should be used not to cross over a pacemaker or with patients on blood thinning medications. Patients who have recently had a seizure should wait until their seizures are under control. While dry needling can be used to treat wounds, it should not be used directly in open wounds, warts, or moles. Those who are highly fatigued or who have not eaten in the last two hours, especially diabetics, should refrain from dry needling until they are fed.
What Are The Risks With Dry Needling?
As with any injection, there are risks associated with infection or injury from the injection. When done properly and with care, these risks are extremely rare. Your dry needling practitioner should be highly trained in advanced coursework and should be happy to show you their credentials and discuss your safety with you at any time.
Skin infections require about 7.5 million bacteria cells to penetrate the skin in order to cause illness. The size of the dry needles used in dry needling are about 0.00009 times too small for that to happen. Your practitioner should also take care to minimize blood borne pathogen spread and follow blood borne pathogen guidelines.
Wearing gloves and sterilizing the skin prior to injection is controversial in the world of acupuncture and dry needling. Using alcohol prep pads only lifts surface dirt but does not clean ducts, glands, or follicles below the surface that cannot be sterilized regardless of method. Again, the needles are much too small to transfer infection through this manner.
As far as wearing gloves, It may actually increase the risk of a needle stick as it decreases finger dexterity. Your practitioner will discuss your preference with you and wear gloves or sterilize the injection sites if you prefer. Your comfort is most important.
Puncturing a lung or vital organ such as a kidney or the liver is a very rare occurrence. I choose to avoid treatment areas that pose a higher risk for this to occur and opt to use techniques with minimal risk.
I want you to be comfortable and enjoy your experience. Please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions.
Take control of your health and start your journey to a better you.
Our team is ready to help you move better, feel stronger, and live healthier.
