Dry Needling / Acupuncture

WHAT IS DRY NEEDLING?

Dry needling consists of the insertion of thin, sterile, stainless steel needles into trigger points in muscles. The muscles are stimulated by twisting or moving the needle to elicit a twitch response.

WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

Dry needling is primarily used to assist with pain relief, loosen tight muscles, improve joint motion and to help boost the body’s healing response after injury.

This can include headache and migraine, Neck and back pain (reducing muscle spasm, pain relief), Shoulder pain – rotator cuff injury, bursitis, and impingement, Tennis Elbow or Golfers Elbow, Carpal Tunnel, De Quervains Synovitis, Hip pain – bursitis, tendinitis/tendinopathy, pain management in arthritis, Knee pain – pain management for OA or degenerative meniscal tear, Ankle/foot – plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, Haematoma (cork thigh or deep bruising).

DOES IT HURT?

Depending on the technique used and amount of stimulation given, dry needling may leave you with a muscle ache for 12-24 hours after treatment. If this occurs you can manage your pain using heat and analgesics, as well as doing gentle stretching. If you have any concerns please contact your therapist.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Dry Needling treatment is a form of therapy in which fine needles are inserted into specific body points. 


Dry Needling is generally safe with serious side effects less than one per 10,000 treatments. Common side effects include drowsiness, minor bleeding (3%), pain during treatment (1%), increased pain after treatment (3%) and fainting. If acupuncture is provided to your trunk there is a risk of a pneumothorax and your physiotherapist will seek your consent before this treatment is provided.


Sometimes you may feel pain during treatment, or have your symptoms aggravated for a period of time following treatment – this is often a good sign, but you should discuss this with your therapist. If you have any concerns following your treatment please get in contact with your therapist.


CAN I HAVE DRY NEEDLING WHEN PREGNANT?

Generally physiotherapists won’t use dry needling on anyone who is in their first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you are interested in receiving dry needling and are pregnant please discuss this with your physiotherapist.

LET YOUR THERAPIST KNOW IF YOU SUFFER WITH THE FOLLOWING:

****These conditions don’t necessarily mean you can’t have dry needling; rather that extra pre-cautions may need to be taken****

****Our clinic only uses stainless steel, single-use, disposable needles****