ACCUPUNCTURE & DRY NEEDLE
Dry needling is a technique used in physical therapy to treat muscle dysfunction.
Acupuncture and Dry Needle
For the treatment of sports injuries.
Traditional Acupuncture is a form of ancient Chinese medicine which has been used for the past two thousand years to treat a variety of illness and medical conditions.
Traditional acupuncture is based on the belief that energy flows through the body in channels called meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that illness or injuries are caused when this energy channel is blocked and energy isn’t flowing throughout the body. Energy flow is restored by inserting very fine needles into the channels that have become blocked, stimulating the body’s healing response and restoring its natural balance. Acupuncture also increases blood flow into the area being treated and good blood supply is important for tissue repair. Different combinations of points are used to treat different conditions. Acupuncture is used to treat a wide range of conditions and injuries; the overall aim is to restore the body’s balance.
More recently, dry needling or also called medical acupuncture has been widely used and accepted all over the world. Dry needling is a technique used in physical therapy to treat muscle dysfunction, by inserting very fine needles into trigger points, or “knots”. These trigger points are usually the result of a muscle injury, such as common sports injuries or repetitive strain. Trigger points are painful when pressed on and can also refer pain to other areas.
The goal of both acupuncture and dry needling therapy is to reduce pain, improve mobility and restore function. These are powerful techniques that can relax tight, painful muscles. Research has shown that the insertion of needles stimulates deep sensory nerves in the body that causes a release of pain-relieving substances, such as endorphin’s, which act as the body’s natural pain reliever. The effects of dry needling also include increased blood flow and decreased muscle tightness. These techniques are a great compliment to hands on therapy.
What can be treated with acupuncture and dry needling?
Acupuncture and Dry needling may have a beneficial effect on many sports and work related injuries, the following conditions are just some examples:
- Lower back pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Joint pain
- Tendonitis
- Muscles cramps
- Headaches / Migraines
- Computer-related disorders
- Shoulders / neck pain
- Sciatic pain
Difference between acupuncture and dry needling
The focus of traditional acupuncture is the insertion of needles in specific acupuncture points, the meridians, to restore normal flow of the energy within the body promoting overall healing and wellness. In a 30-minute session, needles can be inserted in different parts of the body treating different areas at the time.
Dry needling is directed more specifically at individual muscles, relieving pain and trigger points in these specific muscles and restoring functional movement. Dry needling therapy is used in conjunction to sports massage and it is a brilliant complement to this therapy in treating pain and injuries in general.
Important Note: You will be unable to donate blood until 4 months after your medical acupuncture treatment. Please ask your therapist for an alternative treatment if this is an issue.
