DRY NEEDLING
Dry needling is an emerging treatment for musculoskeletal pain that has been gaining popularity in the medical community for many years. It involves inserting thin, solid filament needles into the skin and underlying muscle tissue to stimulate and release trigger points in the body.
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Dry needling aims to stimulate healing in damaged tissues, reduce pain and muscle tension, and improve movement patterns.
What is the difference with Dry Needling and Traditional Acupuncture
While dry needling may sound familiar to traditional acupuncture, there are subtle differences. Dry needling has the same goals or objectives as acupuncture, which is to manage pain and restore function within the body. But the biggest difference with dry needling is it doesn’t use the Meridian System or differentiate diagnoses like traditional acupuncture. Instead, dry needling uses the framework of western musculoskeletal diagnoses and evidence-based points for pain management.
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Speaking of pain management, dry needling can also integrate the use of a thicker gauged needles compared to regular acupuncture. Electrical stimulation is also added to the needles to stimulate and increase overall movement and circulation.
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Dry needling can be used to treat a variety of problematic health conditions which can often be resistant to conventional treatments. These conditions can include, neck and back pain, nerve impingement, sciatica, migraines, rotator cuff issues, tendonitis, muscle tension, carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, dystonia, Bell's Palsy, trigger points associated with fibromyalgia, etc. It can also be used to treat common sports injuries, such as tendonitis and muscle strains.
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How long is each session?The first session is 60 minutes and follow up session is 30 minutes long and provides a relaxing and healing experience.
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How many treatment will I need and what is the after care like?Even though you may have less pain after your first visit, I recommend four more sessions to continue the pain relief treatment. Pain affects not only our physical bodies but our energy levels, and continued acupuncture also helps with stress and emotional balance. I also guide you through my self acupressure plan for acupressure that you can implement at home. By simply pressing on key parts of the body, you can lower your pain and feel better throughout the week.
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What are some of the side effects that I may experience during and after acupuncture?You may experience some soreness or tenderness, but this is common to any acupuncture method. These usually go away within 24 to 48 hours. After acupuncture, you may feel little tired or like taking a nap. This is a natural way for your body to accelerate the healing process. Most people feel energized and relaxed at the same time afterwards!
