Dry needling or Myofascial Dry Needling (MDN) is used to treat sore muscles and trigger points.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
As previously discussed in another blog post, muscles are made of lots of individual fibres.
As the fibre contract and stretches, this does give the muscle the ability to have strength and elasticity.
Along a series of repetitive movements, and lack of posture the muscle fibres can accumulate tension that we generally call knots.
Those “knots”, are trigger points.
Now, to release the tension out of the trigger points we can either apply external pressure, with the thumb or the elbow, in case of a Remedial Massage or using even the knee or the heel of the foot with a Thai Massage, or we can break the fibres from within by using a needle.
The needles used in this practice have a diameter that goes from 0.15 to 0.25mm, so really thin needles.
Whereas the length can vary from 15mm to 90mm.
Depending on the target muscle, different is the length of the needle used.
So, as we penetrate the muscle with the needle, we brake the fibre and we recall an inflammatory response from the patient immune system.
Which is driving more blood and nutrients to the target area.
As discussed further in this study published on PubMed, Dry Needling is effective for chronic non-specific neck pain 1.
IS DRY NEEDLING SAFE?
Yes, it is, as long as the practitioner that is offering the service is qualified for it, and well knows the anatomy of the muscles.
Said so, when you receive dry needling there are a few things that you may wanna consider.
Firstly you better not have any metal allergy.
Also, Dry Needling is not recommended if you have just done any strong physical activity or training, as the muscles would be in an acute inflammatory stage.
In addition to this other contraindications are:
- If the patient is on a blood thinner
- Diabetes type 1
- The area is affected by Lymphedema
- The patient is unable to give the consent
- The patient would not be able to stay still as the needle is in the body
Dry needling is a service that soon would be available at Melbourne Thai Treatment.
I am going through my last few weeks of training at RMIT University for an Advance Diploma in Myotherapy.
Would be then November about when this service would be available along Remedial Massage, Thai Massage or Myotherapy services.
1. Cerezo-Téllez E, Torres-Lacomba M, Fuentes-Gallardo I, Perez-Muñoz M, Mayoral-Del-Moral O, Lluch-Girbés E, Prieto-Valiente L, Falla D. Effectiveness of dry needling for chronic nonspecific neck pain: a randomized, single-blinded, clinical trial. Pain. 2016 Sep;157(9):1905-1917. DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000591. PMID: 27537209.