Dry needling is a Western form of acupuncture, where needles are applied to ‘trigger points’ – tight painful points within the muscle, to reduce tension and pain. Needles are placed as deep as needed to reach the specific muscles where painful trigger points are located. Dry needling can be used to treat multiple areas in one appointment if necessary. Dry needling may at times be uncomfortable, as the trigger point in the muscle can generate pain or a muscle twitch on palpation, but this should subside within a few seconds. After the treatment your muscles should feel loser and less painful.
Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and origionates from Chinese medicine. It can be used to reduce muscle or joint pain, also to treat more generalised issues such as anxiety, allergies or digestive issues. Both dry needling and traditional acupuncture act on the nervous system to reduce localised muscular pain, as well as global pain perception, assisting with recovery. As a physiotherapist i used traditional acupuncuture points to alleviate muslce and joint pain. It can be particularly helpful as a treatment for those who do not enjoy massage or find massage too painful.
I use both acupuncture and dry needling as a physiotherapist to treat muscle and joint problems. To book an appointment or discuss if acupuncture and dry needling can help please email info@clairegurneypilates.com
