If you are planning to visit your local massage parlour because you are experiencing pain, you may have seen a procedure called dry needling advertised. Dry needling involves a therapist inserting needles which are dry (they do not contain any medication) into your skin at certain areas known as trigger points. While dry needling is similar to acupuncture, it differs in that the treatment is backed by scientific studies which have identified how nerves and muscles in the human body interact. The article provides you will all the info you will need before deciding if dry needling is the right choice of treatment. Read on to find out more.
Conditions
Dry needling can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, such as musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain, pain in the knee or hip, sciatica, tennis elbow, and Achilles tendinitis.
Trigger points
Trigger points are found in muscles and tendons. A trigger point will often result in pain elsewhere in the body. This is because of the nerves which link the trigger point to other muscles and tendons. For example, if you hurt your lower back when playing sport, you may find that your shoulder hurts as the pain travels up the spine. Doctors refer to this type of pain as referred pain. By inserting a needle into a trigger point, your therapist can help to release tension and ease pain which is occurring in other parts of your body.
Pain
If you have never experienced dry needling before, it is likely that you will be concerned about the amount of pain you might feel during the treatment. Thankfully, dry needling typically doesn't cause a lot of discomfort. When your massage therapist first inserts the needle into the trigger point, you may feel a short, sharp stinging sensation. However, this will soon pass. You may also feel referred pain in another area of your body, and your muscles may spasm. This is nothing to worry about, and it shows that the treatment is working as planned.
Recovery
Following your treatment, you may find that the area which was dry needled feels a little tender and sore. However, this normally passes with a day or so. You can speed up your recovery by getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated.
If you would like to find out more about this subject, you should get in touch with your local massage parlour today.