What is Dry Needling?

What is a trigger point?

A myo-fascial trigger point is commonly referred to as a ‘knot’ which we often associate with localised soreness and stress. It can also cause a larger pattern of pain which refers away from the region.

Trigger points can develop during occupational, recreational or sports activities such as running. They occur either as a result of injury or repetitive strain, where muscle use exceeds muscle capacity and normal recovery is disturbed.

The presence of the trigger point prevents full lengthening of the muscle, eventually weakening the entire muscle group and altering its function.

How does dry needling actually work?

‘Dry needling’ involves inserting an acupuncture needle into a trigger point or taught band of skeletal muscle in order to stimulate it. When inserting the needle, Podiatrists aim to generate a small ‘local twitch response’ which is a small involuntary muscle contraction which ‘jump starts’ the muscle and its nerve supply, resulting in a reflex reaction in the muscle which reduces its tension. It is particularly useful at isolating more severe trigger points.

What is it useful for treating?

Relieving trigger points through dry needling is very effective in treating the pain and mobility of a broad range of common musculoskeletal injuries in the legs, ankles and feet.

Dry needling can also be used to treat pains that confusingly persist even when the initial lower limb injury appears to have healed. For example, a patient may report experiencing persistent pain in their achilles tendon region however in some cases, the achilles itself is fine. What the patient is actually experiencing is referred pain from a trigger point located in the calf muscle above it. In order the for achilles pain and function to be restored to normal health, the calf muscle needs to be allowed to relax and strengthen again as a result of having its trigger point released.

Specific injuries we treat with dry needling include plantar heel pain, achilles and posterior tibial dysfunction and myofascial pain syndrome.

What is involved?

The practice of ‘dry needling’ is virtually pain free. It involves gently tapping a very fine sterile acupuncture needle into the skin overlying the trigger point. Apart from a little odd twitching sensation once the needle is inserted, the needle is not felt.

Why try dry needling?

We have recently been achieving fantastic results through trigger point dry needing!

Let us help you decide whether this simple and safe technique suits your comfortable personalised treatment plan and get you back on your feet 🙂