What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The needles in Acupuncture are used to stimulate specific points, allowing got the correct flow of “qi” through your body. It is also used to treat a variety of conditions. The techniques in acupuncture and dry needling are similar.
What is dry needling?
Dry needling refers to the placement of acupuncture needles (or similar) into areas of muscle in order to reduce pain and tightness. It is called “dry needling” because it works without the use of an anesthetic injection.
How does it work?
The process involves the insertion of the needles into areas of muscle called “trigger points”. These are tight areas within the muscles that are colloquially called “knots”. They can refer pain to other areas of the body often causing headaches, neck pain and back pain. Upon insertion of the needle, there may be an elicited twitch response. This indicates that the muscle is relaxing but is not necessary for the technique to be effective. Needling also leads to the release of natural opioids and endorphins, which naturally reduce your pain experience.
If you have tight muscles or would like to try dry needling you can book an appointment with a Lakeside Chiropractor in Joondalup, Perth by calling 9300 0095.
