Although dry needling may not be a process that a lot of people are familiar with, most of us are familiar with acupuncture, which is similar but not identical.
Dry needling is performed by a licensed physical therapist (PT) to help ease discomfort and pain in your muscles. Certain points in your neuro-musculoskeletal system are targeted to increase blood flow and reduce pain and stiffness.
For more information about receiving dry needling near you, reach out to our community clinic; our staff is here to assist you with all your questions and concerns.
How Does It Work?
Dry needling is quite a straightforward process. Extremely thin needles made are injected into specific areas in your body. These points are also known as “trigger points” because when they are disturbed, they will cause your body to react – in this case, it causes your muscles to relax. In turn, this alleviates pain and increases your body’s range of motion. This unique treatment is often performed in conjunction with other forms of physical therapy to ensure that you’re able to recover quickly and properly.
What Can It Treat?
Noted below are just a few of the issues that dry needling can help address:
- Muscles soreness, inflammation, or tightness. This applies to both acute and chronic muscle pain in multiple areas of the body like your shoulders, hips, and knees.
- Headaches/ migraines.
- Shin splints.
- Temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
- Whiplash.
- Tendonitis and arthritis.
- Problems with your spine.
If you’re unsure whether you should receive dry needling near you, it’s best to speak to a physical therapist. They’ll invite you to come in for an initial consultation; during this appointment, they’ll ask you about your medical history and your current symptoms, and then conduct a physical evaluation to better understand your case. They’ll be able to recommend the best course of action, whether that’s dry needling or practicing various exercises.
Dry Needling vs Acupuncture
Though each of these methods is similar, they are not the same.
Acupuncture is a popular form of Chinese medicine that focuses on relieving discomfort by provoking the healing energy that naturally resides in the human body. The needles are inserted at strategic places to help level out this energy. Alongside pain, acupuncture is used to treat an extensive array of conditions such as menstrual cramps, nausea, allergies, and headaches. It is considered a form of medical treatment.
Acupuncturists must complete multiple years of training and pass a test each year if they wish to continue practicing.
In comparison, dry needling is exclusively administered by a PT, and they don’t need to undergo any unique training. Furthermore, dry needling is primarily done to treat muscle pain. So, it’s best to do your research and meet with a PT to discuss their qualifications before committing to anything.
At Stance Physio, we offer dry needling in Calgary. Our team can be reached by phone, email, or feel free to drop by and see us in person. You deserve to live pain-free, and we want to help you achieve that. Book an appointment with us!