Dry needling

Dry needling is a treatment method in which a 'dry needle' is inserted into a muscle to make it relax. Unlike an injection needle, no fluid is injected or withdrawn from the body with this method. The needle used is a thin acupuncture needle.

Trigger points in dry needling

Trigger points are local hardenings in a muscle that can cause symptoms. They are also called muscle knots. Trigger points can cause prolonged pain symptoms with radiation. To find a trigger point, the physiotherapist will first want to know what symptoms are present and how they arose. The physiotherapist then looks for local hardenings in a muscle that elicit the symptoms.

Trigger points can arise in any muscle. Each trigger point has its own radiation area. As a result, a trigger point often causes pain in a different place in the body. However, pain is not the only problem that trigger points cause. Symptoms such as a decrease in strength and stiffness are also the result of trigger points. Physiotherapists regularly use dry needling to treat trigger points.

Causes

Trigger points can be caused by physical overuse of muscles, but also by psychological symptoms.

Physical overuse

Examples of physical overuse include poor posture, prolonged tension of muscles, repeatedly performing the same movement, and short-term heavy exertion. Injuries and (small) physical abnormalities such as flat feet or a leg length difference can also lead to trigger points.

Psychological causes

Examples of psychological causes include stress, bottling up feelings, and increased work pressure.

Dry needling treatment

During a dry needling treatment, a thin needle is inserted into a trigger point. When this happens, the muscle suddenly contracts (twitch). The muscle then relaxes. The intention is that this removes the local hardening in the muscle. The longer the symptoms have existed, the greater the chance that the trigger points are no longer limited to one muscle. It may therefore be necessary to address multiple trigger points in one treatment.

Inserting the needle is not painful. Puncturing the trigger point can be briefly uncomfortable. Some describe this as a cramp-like sensation or a small electric shock.

After needling, improvement of pain symptoms or mobility is usually immediately noticeable. However, sometimes there can be a slightly bruised feeling after the treatment. This bruised feeling generally goes away quickly by staying in motion and doing light stretching exercises.

Usually, only a few dry needling treatments are needed to resolve the symptoms. It is then wise to prevent the symptoms from returning through the right exercises and advice.

Where can I find a dry needling therapist?

The following page offers an overview of physiotherapists who perform dry needling. Enter your postcode to find a dry needling practice near you.