Dry needling is a treatment that utilizes thin, solid filament needles, similar to those in acupuncture, to deactivate and desensitize trigger points in muscles. Myofascial trigger points are “knots” in muscles that lead to pain, decreased range of motion, and decreased function.
Is Dry needling the same as acupuncture?
No, it is not, although the needles are similar, acupuncture uses meridians to restore the normal flow of life known as “qi”. Dry needling places needles directly into a trigger point and looks for a twitch response (a brief contraction) followed by long-lasting relaxation of that area reducing pain and increasing function of that area.