The Benefits of Dry Needling
Dry needling is a procedure predominantly used to treat muscle pain. The name ‘dry needling’ is because there is no injection or medication inserted with the needle. Small filament type needles are inserted into myofascial trigger points (known as painful knots in muscles), tendons, ligaments, or near nerves in order to stimulate a healing response with the goal of permanently reducing pain and dysfunction. It has been shown that our bodies can develop areas of hypersensitivity and tightness as a response to various stresses, for example postural, repetitive movements, psychological and emotional.
Research suggests that dry needling alters the way a muscle and the brain talk to each other. When the needle is inserted into the muscle, it may produce a twitch, ache or be sore. All these responses are normal and a sign that the correct area has been found.
Dry needling has been used for treating various sorts of muscle pain for decades. It is one of the most popular and most effective medicine-free ways of healing pain. Some of the ways dry needling works include:
- Altering the Blood Flow – Dry needling on a trigger point causes dilation of small blood vessels and increases the blood flow and oxygen to the area. This helps in relieving muscle pain.
- Blocks Pain Receptors – Dry needling releases neurotransmitters; these neurotransmitters are natural painkillers, which block the transmission of pain receptors from the brain and spinal cord, resulting in minimizing the pain effect.
- Muscle Regeneration – When a needle pricks the muscle, it results in a focal traumatic lesion. This lesion activates the process of tissue healing and regeneration of the muscle.
- Inducing a Twitch Response – A twitch response is an involuntary spinal reflex that can occur with dry needling. This response can lead to changes in the tension and length of the muscle and as a result can heal any pain inside it.
- Causing Neurophysiological Effect – Through dry needling, our central nervous system can produce a local neurophysiological effect at the site, which can desensitize the area.
Some Benefits of Dry Needling include:
- Relieving soreness.
- Getting rid of muscle tightness.
- Restoring muscle functions.
- Improves injury recovery.
- Economical.
- Effective and efficient.
If you’re suffering with pain and/or muscle dysfunction, and would like to book in for dry needling as part of your treatment, please call the Optimal Clinic on 0504233302 and book in with Sapna.
