Acupuncture and Dry-Needling

Dry needling also uses acupuncture needles to address pain, release myofascial trigger points and promote healing. Overworked muscles can develop taut, painful bands known as trigger points. These trigger points can be a source of pain and can also refer pain into other areas of the body.  Dry needling involves the insertion of acupuncture needles into these trigger points to elicit a twitch response. This twitch response creates a local response as well as a response in the brain that helps to relax the taut band of muscle and relieve pain. Dry needling was developed from medical techniques that involved injecting substances such as lidocaine and Botox into trigger points to relieve pain and decrease muscle tightness. Over time, it was discovered that using acupuncture needles (dry needles) to stimulate a twitch response in these trigger points could also relieve pain and improve muscle tone. It was from this that the practice of dry needling was created.

Current research supports the use of Dry Needling to address muscle pain and myofascial pain syndromes such as:

• • Temporomandibular Joint (Jaw) Pain and Dysfunction (TMD)
  • Neck Pain
  • Headaches
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Low Back Pain
  • Plantar Faciitis and Heel Pain

Clinically, Dry Needling can provide significant improvement for:

• • Tendinopathies/tendinitis including:
    • rotator cuff
    • golfers or tennis elbow
    • Achilles tendinopathies
  • Hip pain and osteoarthritis
  • Knee pain and osteoarthritis
  • Radiculopathies (nerve pain)

Considering Medical Acupuncture or Dry Needling? Ensure to discuss with your Physiotherapist the following:

• All medical conditions
• All medications you are taking
• Past surgeries including:
  • any pacemakers, implants or joint replacements
• History of bacterial endocarditis (heart infection) or heart valve replacement
• Allergies to surgical steel or skin cleaning chemicals
• If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant

At Strive, our Physiotherapists have training in Medical Acupuncture and/or Dry Needling. Your Physiotherapist will discuss your treatment options with you and may use one or both techniques to help relieve your symptoms. While we stand by the effectiveness of these techniques, at Strive we believe in providing multi-modal care that includes individualized education, a personal home exercise program and other Physiotherapy techniques, including hands on care, to get you back on track.

How to get ready for an acupuncture or dry needling session.

• Ensure you have had something to eat prior to your treatment
• Be well hydrated
• Avoid having treatment if you are feeling unwell or have a fever