What Is Dry Needling

Dry needling is the act of using thin filament needles in order to release trigger points in muscles that are causing pain or other negative symptoms. Dry needling has become more and more popular over recent years. It doesn't carry the risk of infection or disease that traditional acupuncture does. One of the most common forms of dry needling for pain management is dry needling for myofascial pain syndrome.

In dry needling, a tiny filament needle is used to prick into the trigger points.  This may cause a twitch response in that muscle which helps to release it from spasm.  Paraesthesia, pain from the dry needling, along with mechanical and chemical stimulation of the muscles helps to desensitize the trigger point. A dry needling treatment will normally include a dry needling session in which you lie on a table with your clothes off from mid-thigh up, or sometimes including the upper chest. A dry needling practitioner will ask you some questions about your medical history and then perform a physical examination of the area that is causing you concern. A dry needling session usually only takes ten to fifteen minutes.