Dry Needling involves tapping needles into various sites of the body to bring about desired outcomes.  The needles are however only very small (with a width of a fraction of a millimetre), so discomfort upon application is usually very limited, and you may even not feel anything at all.  This targets areas of muscular and connective tissue tightness that can cause musculoskeletal complaints within the body.  This treatment modality is particularly helpful when wanting to treat an area of tightness that is deep and/or localised, where it would be difficult to release using sports massage treatment without causing greater discomfort to the patient, or indeed the therapist's hands.  Much of this tightness that is causing or contributing to an ailment can be located in areas that do not necessarily lie where the pain is - after all, where the pain is, the problem often isn't! 

 

How does Dry Needling Work?

 

When inserted, the needles stimulate mechanoreceptors in the tissues.  These tissues are sensitive to touch, pressure and vibration.  This sends an impulse to the brain which subsequently causes a relaxation in these tissues.  The mechanism of this is through nervous system stimulation.  This effect can be enhanced further for clients who choose to experience my Electrotherapy.       

 

What is the difference between Acupuncture and Dry Needling?

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The eastern practice works with the idea that the body contains hundreds of meridians travelling as lines through the body, each line emanating from a particular organ and branching out (see picture below).  Examples of meridians are the Heart, Lung, Spleen and Liver to name a few.  It is thought that inserting needles into these points help to balance the energy through the body, each point corresponding to a certain function.

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Dry Needling is where I direct more focus, as in my experience this tends to fit in better to other therapies in my own practice, particularly in regards to treating sports injuries.  Please note that if you are looking to have a problem treated that is not musculoskeletal in nature, then it is recommended that you visit an acupuncturist, as whilst I have been trained in a select number of eastern techniques, I am not an 'acupuncturist' and do not practice in this way. 

 

*Please note that normally I would practice dry needling to compliment a sports massage appointment, however under certain circumstances I can also practice it in isolation.              

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