Treating Body Pain through Dry Needling
Severe or chronic muscle pain leads us to take in heaps of painkillers which may hurt our kidneys and cause other side effects in the long run. Not many people know that there is now a safer natural method to relieve pain, and that is Dry Needling (also known as Myofascial Trigger Point Dry Needling).
Dry needling is different from acupuncture, although the two share similar principles. The latter is an ancient Chinese practice and effective for treating maladies like hormonal imbalance, fertility, and immune system problems. The former is a Western adaptation that targets the muscles.
As soon as I discovered the benefits of dry needling, I searched for a reliable physio in Werribee. Playing sports is a big thing here in Australia. To add, Australian women live active lifestyles. It’s not uncommon to hear stories of torn or overstretched muscles because of work or leisure activities. While pain medicines work, I rather want a natural method. Seeking the help of a good physiotherapist was the best decision I made so far. Dry needling, along with other therapy treatments, works out perfectly fine with me. If you want to learn more about this treatment, read on.
You may be scared with the thought of having needles inserted into various parts of your body. That’s fine since I was afraid at first, too. Perhaps, you are thinking of the kind of needles we commonly use in sewing fabrics. The needles used in the dry needling method, though, are filiform or thread-like. It’s also possible that your physiotherapist uses hollow-core hypodermic needles when treating muscle pain Physiotherapists identify the trigger points that cause pain to a group of muscles. Specifically, trigger points are a few tight bands of skeletal muscles found within a bigger muscle group. These are sensitive, tender, and cannot be manually touched by the therapists (hence the use of needles). A slight touch to trigger points can already cause or alleviate muscle pain to other areas. It is called a “trigger” point because of its cascading effect.
Physiotherapists are professionals and highly trained. You have nothing to worry about mishaps unless you landed a hoaxer or unlicensed therapist. But under normal circumstances, physiotherapists studied the human anatomy as intensively as possible. Otherwise, they would not be certified and licensed.
Firstly, your therapist will conduct an interview and assessment during the consultation. The disclosure of facts and insights is important in identifying the problem area. Following the assessment is the drafting of the treatment plan. Physiotherapists always tailor the program to the specific needs of the patient since different people have different thresholds, concerns, and preferences. Then, the actual procedure, the pricking of “dry needles” in the specific trigger points follows.
As part of the safety protocol, therapists normally wear the appropriate personal protective equipment like gloves. The needles, of course, are sterilized and properly disposed of.
Dry needling actually stimulates the underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular, and connective tissues.
You may ask, what are the benefits of dry needling?
Physiotherapists can actually trigger release or inactivation of trigger points in order to help alleviate the pain or improve mobility. Research has shown that dry needling is effective in managing pain, reducing muscle tension, and stabilizing motor dysfunctions. The treatment also expedites a patient’s recovery to active rehabilitation. If you have sons and daughters suffering muscle pain due to sports injury, you may let them try dry needling.
Specifically, dry needling is effective in treating myofascial pain syndrome, which includes pain that results from muscular irritation. Your upper back muscles are prone to the myofascial pain that stemmed from sensitive trigger points. Suffice it to say, controlling these trigger points is the aim of your physiotherapist. The weakness of muscles and repetitive motions are some of the root causes of these kinds of pain.
If you still have further queries and concerns, it’s always best to talk to a professional physiotherapist. You may ask a few friends who had prior experience in the treatment to give you recommendations. Just remember that dry needling is only part and parcel of a bigger treatment plan. You may avail other treatments or routines as well. I preferred to have the massages and yoga as additional routines. The decision is yours to make, though. I am just glad that I did not have to drink several medicines for pain management. At my clinic also, I was taught how to live a healthier lifestyle to aid in pain management. Sometimes, muscle pains are brought about by improper execution or poor posture, or by too much consumption of trans fats, processed foods, eggs, and alcohol.
Seek the nearest physio clinic near you. In Werribee, there are several of them. Find one that suits your style, and enjoy a pain-free life.
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