Principal Chiropractor, Dr Ryan Yiap, explains in a short video how exactly does dry needling work.
There has been a lot of evidence showing the effectiveness of dry needling to help with trigger points or “knots” in the muscles. But many people ask how exactly does dry needling work. To understand that we need to understand what trigger points are!
Trigger Points
Trigger points are taut bands of muscle and connective tissue that bunch up in the muscle causing tender spots which are sore to touch and can also refer pain to other parts of the body.
Causes
- Trauma – whiplash, strains/sprains
- Repetitive stress injury – improper form
- Prolonged contraction – holding babies, carrying bags
- Working muscles which have not worked before
- Stress – physical manifestation of mental/emotional stress with muscle contraction
Both TCM acupuncture and dry needling use the same equipment, however they have completely different philosophies.
Dry Needling Targets Trigger Points
Dry Needling focuses on release of these trigger points as the needles pierce through the taut bands. This creates a mild inflammatory response to activate blood flow to the area bringing all the nutrients and components required for healing.
It is also believed to cause a mild analgesic effect due to release of certain hormones to help reduce pain. However, the mechanism of how this process happens is still uncertain.
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You can also book online for dry needling appointments with our Chiropractors or give us a call on 9298 8332 for acupuncture appointments.