WHAT IS DRY NEEDLING?
Dry needling is the insertion of a sterile stainless-steel needle into myofascial (muscular & fascial) trigger points. The aim of dry needling is to decrease pain, reduce tightness, and improve range of motion and function. Dry needling can be recommended or requested during a physiotherapy, sports physiotherapy, chiropractic or remedial massage session as part of a holistic treatment plan.
Dry needling works by increasing the blood supply to the affected tissue in the same way a massage does. Needles are much finer and more accurate than the thumb in a massage, and as a result, relieving pain can be more targeted and precise.
Infinite Health’s dry needling in Sydney involves the insertion of a needle to elicit a local twitch response from the targeted muscle. When this happens, it is a sign the muscle is releasing, and the needling will continue until the twitching stops. There are never any substances injected into the body with the needles.
Your muscles contain trigger points, which are knots in the muscle, and they are hyperirritable. To find your trigger points, you’ll notice that they are tender on compression and can cause distinct chronic pain depending on the area.
Dry Needling Sydney Treatment
CONDITIONS IT CAN HELP WITH
At Infinite Health, your physical therapist will use dry needling to help with back pain, sciatica, calf or hamstring tightness, rotator cuff or shoulder injuries, hip impingement, and many other conditions.
It is frequently used on athletes, officer workers, and gym goers for pain modulation and to improve recovery.
Dry needling treatment is an invasive procedure and before receiving the treatment you will need to make sure you are an appropriate candidate, with a thorough screening being conducted by your treating health care professional.
Apart from treating painful locations on your body, Infinite Health’s dry needling in Sydney can also be applied to areas away from the pain. Your physio will alert you to other areas of the body where treatment can have a widespread effect on the rest of the body and improve your outcomes.
The stimulation provided by dry needling works in a cumulative way until the pain in the area eventually disappears. However, It is important to remember that dry needling, like most therapies, is a ‘tool’ utilised during a treatment session and it is most effective when combined with rehabilitation exercises specific to patients’ needs.
DRY NEEDLING TARGET AREAS
Dry needling can be targeted to help manage and prevent further pain in the following areas of the body:
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Shoulder
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Hip
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Thigh
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Back
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Ankles
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Neck
Your dry needling Sydney therapists
Frequently Asked Questions
WhDry needling vs acupuncture: what's the difference?
Acupuncture and dry needling are both effective treatments for pain relief and have been used for centuries. However, there are some key differences between acupuncture and dry needling.
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for over 2,000 years. It is based on the belief that energy, or qi, flows through the body along specific pathways, or meridians similar to your blood flow. When this energy becomes imbalanced, it can lead to disease or pain. Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points along these meridians in order to restore balance and health.
Conversely, trigger point dry needling is a relatively modern treatment method that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Contrary to traditional Chinese acupuncture, dry needling (Western medical acupuncture) aims to release myofascial trigger points, or knots of muscle tissue that can cause pain.
How many dry needling sessions do I need?
The number of dry needling sessions required will depend on each individual's condition and response to treatment. In general, however, most people will start to see improvements after 2-4 sessions. Ultimately, the number of dry needling sessions you'll need will be determined by your response to the treatment and what the rest of your physiotherapy treatment looks like.
Is dry needling painful?
Most patients report feeling little to no pain during the dry needling treatment process. In some cases, you may feel a brief, sharp sensation when the needle first penetrates the skin. After that, you should only feel a dull ache or pressure. If you do experience pain, your physical therapy practitioner will adjust the needle accordingly.
Are there any side effects to dry needling?
One common side effect of dry needling is soreness or bruising at the injection site. This is usually temporary and resolves within a day or two.
What is a trigger point, and why do I have them?
A myofascial trigger point is a tight, irritable spot in a muscle that can cause pain in other parts of the body. Trigger points are also known as muscle knots.
Trigger points often develop as a result of repetitive motions or overuse injuries. For example, someone who frequently types on a computer keyboard may develop trigger points in their shoulders and neck.
Trigger points can also be caused by sudden trauma, such as a car accident. The resulting muscle tension can create trigger points.
Once a trigger point forms, it can become aggravated by stress, poor posture, or other factors. This can cause the trigger point to refer pain to other areas of the body.
How effective is dry needling for a sports injury?
When used in combination with Infinite Health’s Sydney sports massage service, you’ll be back to playing sport in no time and relieved from the pains associated with muscular injuries.
How long do the benefits of dry needling last?
The benefits of dry needling can last for several weeks, although the exact duration will depend on the individual. In general, those who receive dry needling physical therapy for acute pain relief can expect to see the greatest and longest-lasting results. Those who receive dry needling for chronic pain, for example, chronic neck pain, may experience significant pain reduction but will "top up" with more treatment sessions down the line.
For best results, we recommended that patients receive a series of dry needling Sydney treatments spaced out over a period of time.
Is dry needling covered by private health insurance?
Dry needling is administered by trained professionals including physiotherapists, chiropractors or remedial massage therapists. As a form of physical therapy, dry needling is covered by private health insurance if you have any of these benefits on your policy.
If you are unsure about whether or not your policy covers dry needling, the best thing to do is to contact your insurer directly and ask them about your coverage. In most cases, they will be able to give you a clear answer.
Stan Callintzis
North Sydney Physiotherapist
Specialties: General & Sports Physiotherapy
Stan has a strong passion for helping people in any way possible. His goal is to assist his clients to achieve their goals, whether that’s to become pain free or to run a marathon.
His experience is backed by working as a physiotherapist with Dulwich Hill Football Club, where he diagnosed and treated acute sporting injuries, providing on-field injury management.