We’re all familiar with the benefits of acupuncture. But what if you could get most of those same benefits in just 10 minutes, while lying down, with almost no pain? That’s the idea behind dry needling, and it’s garnering attention as an alternative to traditional acupuncture treatments. You may be wondering about the pros and cons of dry needling. Here’s what you need to know about this form of treatment
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is when an acupuncture needle is inserted into tight muscles without an injection of any sort. The benefits are similar to when you are given a regular injection, in that it helps to relieve pain and inflammation in your back, neck or other areas. It can be very helpful in treating trigger points and knots that have built up over time in tight muscles.
There are many types of dry needling that your physical therapist may perform. An injection of lidocaine may be given to reduce pain and inflammation, laser therapy can help treat muscle spasms, and cold treatment (cryotherapy) can decrease swelling. A dry needle is effective at eliminating trigger points that cause pain in tendons, ligaments, muscles, or joints by breaking up tight bands of muscle fibers. Trigger points often cause referred pain—pain felt elsewhere in your body due to an injury or stress on another part of your body. Trigger points can also cause increased sensitivity over time from muscle tension as it continues to contract and tighten after an initial injury or stressor has passed.
While many people enjoy dry needling, there are some negative side effects that could be possible. Let’s take a look at both sides so that you can decide if dry needling is right for you!
The Pros
Many professionals have seen great success using dry needling. This type of therapy is not only effective, but it also gives you many more options than other types of manual treatments. By choosing dry needling, you can treat a number of different muscle groups quickly and effectively. Not only that, but you can use it on patients who have certain medical conditions and heart devices as well. One of the best things about dry needling is how easy it is to learn. You don’t have to spend years in school or be an expert to master its techniques; with just a little bit of training, you can do wonders for your patients.
The Cons
It’s painful—not everyone can handle being poked with needles. If a patient is tense or fearful, it will be more difficult for them to relax and could result in pain during treatment. It’s not for every patient, and there are some who should not have dry needling done at all. These include pregnant women, those with pacemakers and most patients with blood disorders. Be sure your doctor knows if you have any of these conditions before dry needling can begin.
Things To Consider
Although there are plenty of benefits associated with dry needling, there are also some drawbacks that should be considered before making your decision about whether or not to add it to your practice. First and foremost, when you’re considering adding a new treatment modality to your practice, you want to make sure you have enough time in your schedule for all of them. You don’t want to take on something that will require extra training and time if you already feel like you have too much on your plate. If you decide dry needling is right for you, make sure it won’t affect how many patients you can see per day or week.