ACUPUNCTURE
What is Acupuncture?
This involves the insertion of extremely thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain.
Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.
In contrast, many Western practitioners view acupuncture as a traditional medicine. Research was done into developing the use of the same thin needles but changed the name to Dry Needling. This has been incorporated into practice like Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and such conservative methods of treatment.
What is Dry Needling?
This technique is unequaled in finding and eliminating neuromuscular dysfunction that leads to pain and functional deficits. The aim of Dry needling is to achieve a local twitch response to release muscle tension and pain. It’s an effective treatment for chronic pain of neuropathic origin with very few side effects.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry Needling involves the insertion of a thin filament needle to stimulate the healing process of soft tissues (muscle “trigger points”, fascia, tendons and ligaments) resulting in pain relief and restoration of healthy physiology. Dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension, normalizes biochemical and electrical dysfunction of motor end plates, and facilitates an accelerated return to return to active rehabilitation.
What is a “trigger point”?
A Myofascial “trigger point” is a hyper-irritable point in skeletal muscle that is associated with hypersensitive palpable nodule or “knot”. This area becomes painful at the site and can also radiate in predictable patterns.
What is the difference between Dry Needling and Acupuncture?
The objectives and philosophy behind the use of dry needling by physical therapists is not based on ancient theories or tenets of traditional Chinese medicine. The performance of modern dry needling is based on western neuroanatomy and modern scientific study of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
Both Dry Needling and Acupuncture do, however, use the same tool; a solid needle filament.
Does it hurt?
Generally, the insertion of the needle is not felt. Though some people report it feels like a pin prick. The local “twitch response” may provoke a brief pain sensation that has been described as a tingling, aching or cramping sensation.
Who can benefit from Dry Needling?
A variety of musculoskeletal including, but not limited to:
- Acute/ chronic injuries
- Headaches
- Neck/ Back pain
- Tendinitis
- Muscle Spasm
- Hip/ Knee pain
- Muscle Strains
- Fibromyalgia
- Tennis/ Golfer’s elbow
- Overuse injuries
Are there any effects to Dry Needling?
Side effects may vary among individuals. Typically, only mild muscle soreness or skin bruising
Complied By; Eunice Kabana,
Physical Therapist,
C n P Health Center.
