Dry needling manual therapy uses thin, stainless-steel needles that are inserted directly into specific points in the muscle. Penetrating the skin, the needles stimulate the trigger point directly, causing a muscle twitch, which will help to release the cause of tension. Much like a deep tissue massage, dry needling increases the blood supply to the affected tissue.
What does dry needling do? Good question. We can talk about the physiological response of inserting needles into muscles, but that probably means very little to you if all you’re concerned about is whether it’ll help with your specific injury.
In essence, the needles are designed to be inserted in just the right spot that is affecting an area of muscle tension. Physiotherapists and other trained physicians will use multiple dry needles across one problem area - the result is relaxed muscle fibers, released tension, improved blood flow, and promoted healing within the area.
Dry needling can:
- Provide pain relief!
- Reduce inflammation and loosen up tight muscles.
- Relax muscle spasm and myofascial trigger points, improving overall mobility and function.
- Increase blood flow.
- Improve overall healing responses.