Can Dry Needling Make Pain Worse?
Dry needling is a non-invasive treatment that helps patients reduce muscle pain and enhance range of motion. It utilizes fine needles to penetrate skin in order to target myofascial trigger points – knotted muscles that cause discomfort and dysfunction.
During treatment, you may feel a mild sting as the needle is inserted, but this should last no more than a second. Additionally, you may feel your trigger point respond with a brief muscle twitch – this is normal and expected.
Getting Needle Stimulation
Dry needling sessions involve the application of an electrical current to a needle, which in turn causes muscle twitches. This twitch is an indication that your therapy is working. Dry needling allows your therapist to target trigger points in muscle that cause pain by targeting these trigger points. Trigger points occur when muscles are overextended or injured, releasing biochemicals that increase pain perception. The muscle will then contract in an effort to protect itself.
Dry needling allows your therapist to target a particular muscle that’s stuck in this cycle and use electrical stimulation to help it fire properly. Dry needling has been found to reduce pain in patients with musculoskeletal conditions such as neck and lower back discomfort. Unfortunately, there is not enough quality evidence to back this up for long-term relief.
Needle Stimulation Doesn’t Cause Pain
Dry needling is a technique used to release trigger points, or knotted muscles. Commonly found in the shoulder and upper back, these tight bands of tissue can cause pain, limit range of motion and negatively affect performance. Physical therapists use very fine sterile needles to stimulate trigger points, creating a twitch response. This release of tension helps improve circulation and loosen tight muscle knots.
Most patients find dry needling to be less painful than needle injections, though they may experience a twitch or mild muscle soreness after treatment. Usually, this soreness dissipates within 12-24 hours and is not serious.
Dry needling is an effective treatment for myofascial trigger points, a source of chronic pain that affects many people. Additionally, it relieves symptoms associated with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome.
Needle Stimulation Can Cause Pain
Dry needling is a technique utilized by physical therapists, chiropractors and sports medicine physicians to reduce patient pain. When done correctly and under sterile conditions, this technique can be both safe and effective for the patient.
Dry needling is a treatment in which an experienced therapist inserts a needle into your muscle, either superficially or deeply. They usually use a guide tube to ensure accuracy when tapping the needle into place.
Once the needle is inserted into your muscle, you may experience a brief twitch and cramp-like sensation. This is normal and usually goes away quickly.
In some instances, your therapist may incorporate electrical stimulation to a dry needling session. While this can be beneficial, it’s not advised if you are allergic to electrodes or have a tumor present.
Dry needling can also be combined with physical therapy for runners to increase range of motion and hasten recovery. Furthermore, it helps you prevent re-injury and develop better movement habits.
Needle Stimulation Can Make Pain Worse
When your therapist uses dry needling to treat trigger points, they will connect a device to the needle that generates an electrical current. This application of energy can cause muscle contraction in small segments known as “twitches.”
Treatment of trigger points using this technique has been demonstrated to reduce pain, enhance blood flow to the area and enhance range of motion in joints. Furthermore, it helps alter the chemical environment around active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) and normalize their function.
Many physical therapists utilize this procedure, which has been found to be safe and effective. It requires knowledge of skeletal and neuroanatomy as well as kinaesthetic awareness on the part of the therapist.
Recent systematic review findings demonstrated that dry needling performed by a physical therapist is effective for short-term relief of musculoskeletal pain conditions. This is likely because dry needling reduces pain, increases blood flow to the area and enhances range of motion at joints.
If you’re considering dry needling as a treatment option, it’s essential to work with a qualified professional, such as those at Ascent Total Performance. To learn more about this therapy and whether it’s right for you, contact us to schedule an appointment with our team of specialists.
