What Is Dry Needling?
How Is Dry Needling Different From Acupuncture?
In Which Situations Would Dry Needling Be Used?
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Simple muscle tightness
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Strains and sprains
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An overworked body needing recovery
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Muscle activation
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Swelling reduction
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Pain reduction
What Conditions Can Dry Needling Treat?
Is dry needling for all people?
Everybody is different and their reactions to treatments will be different. In my personal experience, people with low blood pressure and low body fat have a poor response to dry needling. In those cases, the technique can be more painful than clinically desired. Some patients may have a "fight or flight" response to the needles, breaking into a sweat. Others feel completely relaxed during and after treatment.
Does dry needling hurt?
The needle used in the procedure is very thin and most patients don't even feel it go into the skin. If patients do feel some level of discomfort, it is short-lived. Some areas may also be more tender than others when treated.
What are the side effects of dry needling treatment?
Every medical procedure carries its risks and rewards. Your doctor learned and uses safe needling techniques to decrease risks from treatment. Before starting treatment, your doctor will talk with you about the risks involved with dry needling.
How does a medical professional know what therapies, like dry needling, to use?
Right now, a lot of those decisions are based on experience. We practice a clinical art based on science. There is so much art involved in the clinical decision making process. Much of it is left up to the experience and personal successes of the clinician. Evidence always lags behind our clinical practice. But making informed decisions based on current science and known research is always best.