With dry needling, thin needles are put into trigger points in the muscle to relieve pain and muscle tension.
Dry needling is a technique used to treat painful, tight muscles. It involves inserting thin, flexible needles into the skin and underlying muscles to target areas of muscle spasms or trigger points. These trigger points are areas of muscle tension that can be painful and cause referred pain in other body areas[1]Cagnie B, Dewitte V, Barbe T, Timmermans F, Delrue N, Meeus M. Physiologic effects of dry needling. Current pain and headache reports. 2013 Aug;17:1-8..
Dry needling helps to decrease muscle tension, reduce pain, improve joint range of motion, and improve functional mobility. It can also be used to improve posture and reduce stress. The needles are inserted and manipulated into the affected muscle or trigger point during treatment[2]Dommerholt J. Dry needling—peripheral and central considerations. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2011 Nov 1;19(4):223-7..
This causes a twitch response in the muscle, which helps to break up the muscle tension and reduce pain.The therapist may move the needle around and apply pressure to the trigger point to help increase blood flow and reduce tightness. After the treatment, patients often report an immediate reduction in pain, improved range of motion, and better functional mobility.
People often ask how long it takes for dry needling to work. This article will discuss how long dry needling takes and what you can expect after treatment.
Benefits of Dry Needling for Pain
| Reduced Pain | Dry needling is effective in reducing pain intensity, both in the short and long term. The procedure results in a decrease in local muscular tension, increased range of motion, and improved function. This can lead to a decrease in the overall discomfort experienced by the patient[3]Baldry P. Superficial versus deep dry needling. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2002 Aug;20(2-3):78-81.. |
| Improved Mobility | Dry needling can improve mobility in the affected areas by increasing the flexibility of the muscles and allowing for better range of motion. This can help reduce stiffness in the muscles and joints, allowing for improved movement. |
| Healing Acceleration | Dry needling can reduce the time it takes for an injury to heal. The procedure helps reduce inflammation, allowing the body to heal faster. It also helps to reduce pain, allowing the patient to return to their normal activities sooner. |
| Increased Strength | Dry needling can help improve muscular strength. By stimulating the target muscles, it can help increase the muscular activity, allowing for improved strength. This can help improve the patient’s overall performance in physical activities. |
Immediate Effects of Dry Needling
After a dry needling treatment, many people feel better right away. This is because the needles stimulate the nervous system and release muscle tension, making pain and stiffness go away immediately. Some people also say that after a dry needling treatment, they feel more relaxed and can move around better.
Dry needling has been studied for its potential use in treating a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, and has been shown to provide substantial short-term improvements in a patient’s physical condition. Research has demonstrated that immediately after a dry needling session, patients have experienced an increase in their pressure pain threshold (PPT) and range of motion, as well as a decrease in muscle tone and pain.
These improvements can be used to help improve a patient’s quality of life and allow them to more effectively move and function in everyday activities. Additionally, studies have shown that dry needling can be used to promote the healing of damaged tissues, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow to the area.
What dry needling does in the short term
In the short term, dry needling can help with pain and tight muscles. Depending on the person and their condition, this can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. People often need more than one treatment with dry needling to get long-lasting relief from their symptoms.
Dry needling practitioners insert a thin, filament needle into the trigger points of the muscle. The trigger points are areas of tightness that are usually a result of muscle overuse. Once the needle is inserted, the practitioner then moves the needle in an up-and-down “pistoning” motion, which causes the muscle to twitch and cramp. This process releases muscle tension and helps the muscle to relax. By releasing muscle tension, dry needling can help to reduce pain, improve mobility and increase range of motion.
Effects of dry needling over the long term
Depending on the person and their condition, dry needling can have different long-term effects. After a series of dry needling treatments, some people find that their pain and muscle tension go away for good. Some people may need ongoing treatments to keep their symptoms under control.
The length of relief from treatment will differ from person to person. Initially, treatments can be expected to provide several days of relief. With repeated treatments, the goal is to extend the period of relief, meaning that with each additional treatment, the duration of relief should become longer.
Factors That Affect How Well Dry Needling Works
Several things can affect the effectiveness of dry needling, such as:
- Depending on the pain and muscle tension, a person may need more treatments to get long-term relief.
- How a person reacts to treatment: Some people respond to dry needling better than others. How well the treatment works for each person depends on their body and condition.
- The skill of the person doing the dry needling: How well dry needling works can also depend on the skill and experience of the person doing it. A well-trained person with a lot of experience is more likely to get better results.
Conclusion
Dry needling can help relieve pain and tightness in muscles immediately, but how well it works, in the long run, depends on the person and their condition. After a series of treatments, some people may find that their symptoms go away for good, while others may need to keep getting treatments to keep their symptoms under control.
The effectiveness of dry needling can depend on many things, such as how bad the condition is, how well the person responds to treatment, and how skilled the practitioner is. If you are thinking about dry needling, you should talk to a qualified medical professional to find out if it is an excellent way to treat your condition.
MD, PhD. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician from São Paulo - Brazil. Pain Fellowship in University of São Paulo.
References
| ↑1 | Cagnie B, Dewitte V, Barbe T, Timmermans F, Delrue N, Meeus M. Physiologic effects of dry needling. Current pain and headache reports. 2013 Aug;17:1-8. |
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| ↑2 | Dommerholt J. Dry needling—peripheral and central considerations. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2011 Nov 1;19(4):223-7. |
| ↑3 | Baldry P. Superficial versus deep dry needling. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2002 Aug;20(2-3):78-81. |