Dry needling is a treatment whereby a thin monofilament needle penetrates the skin and the muscular/tendon tissue underneath. The objective of this is to stimulate underlying muscular trigger points for the purpose of injury management and rehabilitation.
You may be wondering, what is a trigger point? A trigger point, often referred to as a “knot”, is a local contracture or tight band within a muscle fibre that can cause discomfort, restrict range of motion, refer pain or cause local tenderness. When we apply dry needling as a treatment approach to a dysfunctional muscle or trigger point, it assists to reduce tightness, increase blood flow, reduce local and referred pain and results in an accelerated healing response.
Is Dry Needling the same as Acupuncture? It’s important to note that dry needling is not the same as acupuncture. It is similar in that monofilament needles are used, however that is where the similarities end. Acupuncture is based on ancient Eastern medicine and aims to restore the body’s “chee” or flow, whereas dry needling is rooted in Western medicine and aims to restore function by applying the physical technique to trigger points.
Dry Needling will rarely be used as a standalone procedure and will instead be applied alongside other treatment options such as sports massage, manual therapy, soft tissue therapy, dry cupping, shockwave therapy etc. Dry Needling can be used to treat conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis, Tennis Elbow, Achilles Tendinopathy, Patella Tendinopathy, Runners knee, ITB syndrome, Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain and many more.
We offer dry needling here at TFD Therapy along with our other treatments including sports massage, soft tissue therapy, dry cupping, shockwave therapy and kinesiology taping. To book your appointment call 01235 772995 or email therapy@tfdgym.co.uk.