Dry Needling is the insertion of fine acupuncture-type needles into tight muscles or trigger points, which seeks to relieve muscle pain by causing a ‘twitch response’ of the muscle tissue, resulting in relaxation and subsequent release of the taut/contracted muscle area. This then enables the muscle’s normal functions to be restored.
Trigger points are hyperirritable taut bands that develop within a muscle, that usually occur as a result of stresses, including poor posture, repetitive actions or emotional trauma. They can cause referred pain and create dysfunction in other parts of the body.
Dry needling has a number of other physiological benefits in the body also:
- Stimulating Golgi tendons and muscle spindles within the muscle itself
- Stimulates blood and growth factors to the area to promote healing
- Strengthens tendons and ligaments
Many people think of acupuncture when they think of dry needling, but whilst the same fine needles are used there is a difference. Acupuncturists apply their theories from Chinese Medicine of where to insert the needles, whilst us as Osteopath’s and Myotherapists use our hands on palpation skills to find these tight muscles and trigger points to insert the needles.
Dry Needling can help to relieve pain and reduce the severity of symptoms in conditions such as:
- Posture related neck and back pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Tennis elbow
- Achilles tendon pain
- Sporting injuries
- Stress
- General muscle tightness
A number of our practitioners here at CHH are trained in dry needling techniques, they are:
- Isaac Lynn
- Emily Gill
- Louise Norman
- Natasha Mueller
- Stephanie Varney
- Courtney Cheah
- Cheryl Clarke