Dry needling is a technique that we use quite frequently in the clinic, but not many people truly understand what it is and how it works, so we thought this month we’d deliver the facts!
Dry needling is a time efficient and highly effective technique which involves inserting an acupuncture-like needle into trigger points or taut bands within a muscle belly in order to generate twitches in a muscle. We like to think of it as an extension of our fingers.
The needles used are sterile, single use only needles less than 0.3mm thick, the length of the needle varies depending on the muscle being treated.
Majority of people will not feel the needle being tapped into the skin. However, if the muscle is very sensitive, you may feel a slight pin prick. As the needle is advanced into the muscle, you may feel a cramping or twitching sensation which will improve within a short period of time. These twitches created from needling help the muscle to relax and reduce the feeling of tension/tightness, pain and improve function.
If this is something that you may be interested in, feel free to have a chat with one of us and we can discuss if this is a suitable treatment option for you and your needs! All clinicians at Northside have undergone extensive training and are qualified in performing dry needling.