By Melissa Simpson, massage therapist at Thrive Wellness Centre
Dry needling as a trigger point therapy is increasing in popularity as a drug-free way to treat musculoskeletal pain.
What is dry needling and is it safe?
Dry needling is a very safe technique that involves inserting a fine, sterile needle into the muscle. The term dry needling comes from the fact that the needles are empty, or ‘dry’. All of the staff at Thrive who perform this type of treatment are trained and qualified to do so, and the needles used are individually packaged, single-use, sterile needles.
One of the benefits of dry needling is that it can target a specific part of the muscle – some areas which can be more difficult to access through other treatment methods – and when used in conjunction with other treatments such as massage therapy, can assist with muscular aches and pains and may improve flexibility.
Dry needling is a technique used by therapists to help increase blood flow to the muscle and reduce the tension in the muscle thereby reducing the level of muscular pain. Adequate blood flow to an injured tissue in the body is vital for it to heal. Dry needling helps to trigger an increase in blood flow to the area. When a muscle is tight or tense, it can fail to relax, and this can cause muscular pain. The insertion of a dry needle to that tense area brings about a twitch in the muscle, allowing it to relax.
Are there any side effects?
Side effects are rare but may include some bruising or bleeding at the insertion site. The needles are very fine, so the procedure is relatively pain-free. Some people experience a very small amount of pain on insertion of the needle or if the therapist ‘fans’ the needle to assist further muscle relaxation or blood flow to the area. If you are concerned in any way, please do not hesitate to contact our reception staff who can pass you on to one of our experienced therapists.
We have a number of therapists who are trained in dry needling, so give our reception staff a call on (08) 9478 3869 to book an appointment. All of our friendly practitioners work evenings and/or weekends to assist making and attending appointments that little bit easier for you.
References:
www.enhancephysiotherapy.net.au/ourservices/dry-needling/
www.activephysiohealth.com.au/physio-blog/benefits-of-dry-needling/
www.health.clevelandclinic.org/dry-needling-how-this-time-tested-method-sticks-it-to-muscle-pain/
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