As we age, our bodies become more prone to injury resulting in pain. Even simple neck pain can limit head movement, affecting driving safety. If you start feeling muscle and joint pain, it may be a sign for you to schedule an appointment with a physiotherapist. One treatment option that is gaining popularity is dry needling, which involves inserting sterilized needles into the skin and muscle trigger points to produce a “twitch effect” and relax tense muscles.
Dry needling is typically painless, though patients may feel a light pin-prick sensation or muscle twitch. The treatment is often done with the needle being left on the skin for approximately 10 to 30 minutes. It is usually performed in combination with other physiotherapy techniques and rarely used as a sole treatment. The risk of injury during dry needling is very low, and injuries such as nerve damage and damage to internal organs are extremely rare.
Dry needling differs from acupuncture, which is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that treats pain by releasing healing energy. Dry needling, on the other hand, targets trigger points and irritable muscles to relax tense muscle knots and pressure points. Studies show that dry needling may be effective in reducing pain and increasing pain pressure threshold within the immediate to 12-week treatment period.
Dry needling may be a good option for individuals experiencing chronic pain or movement disorders that have been ongoing for three months or longer. It may also help patients experiencing chronic pain from cancer or cancer treatment-related pain. However, children of 11 years or younger and individuals with auto-immune disorders or unmanageable blood clotting should refrain from this treatment.
In conclusion, dry needling is a safe and effective treatment option when done by qualified physiotherapists. It should not be attempted at home, and individuals should contact a qualified physiotherapy clinic in Singapore that offers dry needling to get the proper treatment. If you are experiencing muscle and joint pain, dry needling may be a viable option for you to consider.
