Myofascial dry needling can be great in treating either short or long lasting pain. However, you should not confuse dry needling with acupuncture as they are actually two different things. Acupuncture uses points that lie along the body’s meridians or energy channels, while myofascial dry needling uses points that are defined by western based anatomy and physiology.

What is Myofascial Dry Needling?

Myofascial dry needling is a therapy that has been adapted from acupuncture in that it uses fine needles applied to the musculoskeletal system in order to deactivate myofascial trigger points. A myofascial trigger point can be defined as a hyperirritable spot in a skeletal muscle that is painful when compressed and can cause referred pain or tenderness, motor dysfunction and autonomic phenomena.

What is Myofascial Dry Needling Used For?

It is commonly used for treating conditions such as fibromyalgia, back pain, headaches and migraine, joint pain, osteoarthritis, inflammatory conditions such as tendonitis, post surgery conditions, and acute or chronic trigger point pain.
Fine acupuncture needles are inserted into the trigger points and this can stimulate the points, desensitising or deactivating them and the associated referred pain, causing pain relief, healing, and also stimulating the production of endorphins.
Myofascial dry needling is great as it can help to establish a painless range of movement during the treatment, relaxes the muscles, gives pain relief, improves kinaesthetic sense and prevents allergic reactions. There is also less chance of haematomas occurring, and it can treat deep muscles that are close to neurovascular bundles.