Dry needling is a treatment modality that can be used as a part of your treatment program. It is used by our Remedial massage therapist, or Myotherapist to primarily treat conditions that have a component where muscle trigger points are present.
It is a technique derived from acupuncture but is purely based on trigger point therapy rather than the use of traditional acupuncture points.
Dry needling has two main methods in relieving pain. By inserting a needle into the tight band of muscle it acts to break the trigger point up and restore whole muscle length. Additionally, as the needle is inserted through the skin and muscle it also creates a local inflammatory response that stimulates healing of painful structures.
If your massage therapist or Myotherapist at Latrobe Massage Centre believes that you would benefit from Dry Needling they will discuss the aims, benefits, potential side effects and technique with you prior to treatment to ensure that you fully understand the treatment rationale. Dry needling will then be used as one component of a treatment program combined with manual therapy and exercise to achieve most beneficial long term effects.
Common musculoskeletal conditions that dry needling can be effectively used for include:
- Tennis elbow developed as a result of repetitive strain involving overuse of the wrist extensor muscles
- Neck pain developed as a result of poor posture and with neck muscle tightness a main contributor to pain
- Painful shoulder conditions with a limitation of movement e.g. frozen shoulder, sub-acromial impingement
- Lower back pain and tightness
- Calf and Achilles tightness and pain
- Sciatica and Bursitis