Dry needling is a form of therepy used for muscle aches and pains.
Though commonly confused with the Chinese method of acupuncture, dry needling is a modern Western medical technique with it's own concepts.
History
Myofacial trigger point refers to areas of focal muscle tenderness and spasm.
Developed in the 1940s by Janet Travell, dry needling is commonly defined as the use of a solid needle for therapy. Travell, a former medical adviser to the White House was nicknamed "The Mother of Myofacial-Trigger Point Knowledge," according to www.pain-education.com.
Purpose
Myofacial trigger points feel like lumps in the muscle and are sensitive to pressure.
Dry Needling is used primarily to relieve pain in muscles and connective tissue.
According to The Maher Sports and Wellness Centre, dry needling can also treat headaches, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, muscle spasms, hip pain, knee pain and repetitive strain injuries.
Procedure
Dry needling requires highly specialized training.
During a session of dry needling, a solid needle is inserted directly into the myofascial trigger point. This will prompt a local twitch response (LTR), which is an involuntary spinal cord reflex where the muscle contracts. The LTR is an indication that dry needling has worked properly.
Terminology
Dry needling is often called trigger point needling, intramuscular stimulation (IMS) and biomedical acupuncture.
Fun Fact
In addition to treating muscle-related pain, dry needling techniques help celebrities, such as Angelina Jolie, keep their skin looking youthful, reports Wrinkle-Free-Skin-Tips.com.
Tags: trigger point, Myofacial trigger, solid needle