Dry Needling

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice dating back thousands of years. It involves the insertion of thin solid needles into specific points on the body to improve health and treat illness and is suitable for almost every health condition, either on its own or in conjunction with usual care. Acupuncture offers a unique approach to health and well-being with the ability to treat a wide range of conditions, from musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal issues to mental health, reproductive and gynaecological issues. Depression, headaches, morning sickness and sciatica are just some of the many conditions that are effectively treated by acupuncture.

What is ‘Dry Needling’?

The practice of ‘dry needling’ involves inserting an acupuncture needle into a trigger point and is typically used to treat the pain associated with injuries. A trigger point is a tender spot in a tight band of muscle which causes pain when pressed or squeezed. A dry needling training program often runs for just two or three days – which is just enough time for people to gain a rudimentary understanding of how to ‘needle the point that hurts’ and perhaps deliver short-term symptom relief.

 

Is acupuncture the same thing as ‘Dry Needling’?

The increasing prevalence of the term ‘dry needling’ has created some confusion. Acupuncture practice incorporates many different needling techniques and a variety of these may be required to gain the best results. Dry needling, also known as trigger point acupuncture or, more traditionally, as ashi acupuncture, refers to just one of these techniques. A registered acupuncturist is qualified in many techniques, including trigger point acupuncture, and will adopt the best approach depending on the patient’s individual needs. The best approach does not rely on trigger points alone and sometimes trigger points are not necessary at all. If you’re only having ‘dry needling’, you are missing out on most of what a registered acupuncturist has to offer.