Dry Needling

Dry needling is not acupuncture, yet there are a few similarities. Both use the same sterile needles inserted into the body to relieve pain and discomfort. Acupuncture is used by trained Chinese practitioners working on chi or energy lines in the body encompassing organ stimulation. Dry needling is primarily used by sports injury therapists on soft tissue dysfunction or trigger points.

Dry needling helps to reduce and eliminate knots, adhesions and trigger points, managing pain symptoms and increasing soft tissue movement. This is why this method is more commonly used in sport injury treatment and management. 

Some techniques of dry needling are for treating the bigger picture, treating away from the area or place of pain. This is often referred to as non-trigger point treatment. Instead of inserting needles in the actual area of pain, the therapist inserts needles in areas around or away from the site of pain. Using this technique relies on the thought that pain is the result of a greater nerve or muscular issue, and just present in the area of pain.