PhysioCare Dry Needling/ Acupuncture Services
Dry Needling is a western form of "Acupuncture" and is commonly associated with Chinese acupuncture.
Dry Needling is the most common term for western acupuncture. While the Chinese acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine and occurs along the meridian system, Western acupuncture is based on the study of neuroanatomy, and the modern scientific study of the musculoskeletal and nervous system.
Acupuncture theory:
In Acupuncture, it is thought that when Chi (life energy) becomes stagnant and the flow is disrupted, illness and disease result. In order to restore Chi distribution, Acupuncture needles are inserted into Acupuncture points along the meridians (energetic pathways) of the body.
Western researchers have determined that energetic pathways or meridians do not exist. However, many of these points along the energetic pathways do correspond with nerves, motor points and trigger points in muscle, and treating these areas with needling can have a positive, therapeutic effect on injured muscles and nerves and improve body functions.
Difference of dry needling and acupuncture:
Dry Needling is performed by Western Medical Practitioners such as Doctors and Licensed Physical Therapists using Acupuncture needles to treat the musculoskeletal and nervous systems based on modern neuroanatomy science. It would be incorrect, however, to refer to a practitioner of Dry Needling as an "Acupuncturist" since Dry Needling practitioners do not use traditional meridians (meridians are based on a 2000 year old dogma).
When is dry needling used?
Dry Needling is a supplement to the treatment session during the process of rehabilitation. It is used altogether with the common physical therapy modalities and techniques to provide a thorough rehabilitation. it is important to remember that Dry Needling is only one part of the treatment component.
Mainly, Physical therapy will address biomechanical muscle imbalances, postural dysfunctions, muscular flexibility limitation, strength deficits, and swollen or stiff joints. Physical therapy treatment may include: joint mobilization, a carefully designed therapeutic exercise plan, and advanced hands-on therapy techniques. These will restore a patient’s optimal physical function. A multidimensional treatment approach is paramount for a successful recovery. Singular treatment approaches often only offer temporary relief or fail altogether.
How Dry Needling improves function and reduces pain:
Dry Needling of muscular trigger points causes relaxation through disruption of the motor end plate.
Tiny injuries created by the needle insertion cause a local healing response in the dysfunctional, painful tissue, which restores normal function through the natural healing process.
Dry Needling stimulates neural pathways which blocks pain by disrupting pain messages being sent to the central nervous system. The pain control process occurs by:
1. Opioid suppression at the spinal cord level.
2. The Gate Theory of pain.
3. Activating neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, which contribute to a systemic pain inhibiting effect, and this neurotransmitter response extends the therapeutic benefit to other areas of the body.
4. Dry Needling causes a local chemically mediated response through the release of Bradykinin, Substance P, and other body proteins and neurotransmitters, which block the transmission of pain messages.
What conditions will dry needling work?
Dry Needling, combined with physical therapy treatment, has been shown to help the following conditions:
1. Tendonitis (acute or chronic tennis elbow, golfers elbow)
2. sports related injuries (such as muscle tightness, spasms, sprains)
3. Post-surgical (ACL reconstruction, Hip/knee replacement surgery)
4. Work related injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, postural problems etc
5. Chronic muscular pain
6. shoulder, Upper & Lower back pain
7. Spasticity
8. Muscle spasms
9. Muscle tightness
10. Trigger point’s
11. Other musculoskeletal conditions
information from this page are taken from various research based evidences, expert opinions, scholarly articles and physical therapy websites.
Dry Needling is the most common term for western acupuncture. While the Chinese acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine and occurs along the meridian system, Western acupuncture is based on the study of neuroanatomy, and the modern scientific study of the musculoskeletal and nervous system.
Acupuncture theory:
In Acupuncture, it is thought that when Chi (life energy) becomes stagnant and the flow is disrupted, illness and disease result. In order to restore Chi distribution, Acupuncture needles are inserted into Acupuncture points along the meridians (energetic pathways) of the body.
Western researchers have determined that energetic pathways or meridians do not exist. However, many of these points along the energetic pathways do correspond with nerves, motor points and trigger points in muscle, and treating these areas with needling can have a positive, therapeutic effect on injured muscles and nerves and improve body functions.
Difference of dry needling and acupuncture:
Dry Needling is performed by Western Medical Practitioners such as Doctors and Licensed Physical Therapists using Acupuncture needles to treat the musculoskeletal and nervous systems based on modern neuroanatomy science. It would be incorrect, however, to refer to a practitioner of Dry Needling as an "Acupuncturist" since Dry Needling practitioners do not use traditional meridians (meridians are based on a 2000 year old dogma).
When is dry needling used?
Dry Needling is a supplement to the treatment session during the process of rehabilitation. It is used altogether with the common physical therapy modalities and techniques to provide a thorough rehabilitation. it is important to remember that Dry Needling is only one part of the treatment component.
Mainly, Physical therapy will address biomechanical muscle imbalances, postural dysfunctions, muscular flexibility limitation, strength deficits, and swollen or stiff joints. Physical therapy treatment may include: joint mobilization, a carefully designed therapeutic exercise plan, and advanced hands-on therapy techniques. These will restore a patient’s optimal physical function. A multidimensional treatment approach is paramount for a successful recovery. Singular treatment approaches often only offer temporary relief or fail altogether.
How Dry Needling improves function and reduces pain:
Dry Needling of muscular trigger points causes relaxation through disruption of the motor end plate.
Tiny injuries created by the needle insertion cause a local healing response in the dysfunctional, painful tissue, which restores normal function through the natural healing process.
Dry Needling stimulates neural pathways which blocks pain by disrupting pain messages being sent to the central nervous system. The pain control process occurs by:
1. Opioid suppression at the spinal cord level.
2. The Gate Theory of pain.
3. Activating neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, which contribute to a systemic pain inhibiting effect, and this neurotransmitter response extends the therapeutic benefit to other areas of the body.
4. Dry Needling causes a local chemically mediated response through the release of Bradykinin, Substance P, and other body proteins and neurotransmitters, which block the transmission of pain messages.
What conditions will dry needling work?
Dry Needling, combined with physical therapy treatment, has been shown to help the following conditions:
1. Tendonitis (acute or chronic tennis elbow, golfers elbow)
2. sports related injuries (such as muscle tightness, spasms, sprains)
3. Post-surgical (ACL reconstruction, Hip/knee replacement surgery)
4. Work related injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, postural problems etc
5. Chronic muscular pain
6. shoulder, Upper & Lower back pain
7. Spasticity
8. Muscle spasms
9. Muscle tightness
10. Trigger point’s
11. Other musculoskeletal conditions
information from this page are taken from various research based evidences, expert opinions, scholarly articles and physical therapy websites.