In this article, we will discuss dry needling pros and cons and will try to understand what exactly is dry needling technique.
Trigger point dry needling is a technique increasingly used by physical therapists in the western world to treat musculoskeletal pain. It is thought to be a very effective way to treat people with acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain.
What Is Dry Needling, Exactly?
A therapeutic approach known as “dry needling” makes use of a needle without the use of any injectables, such as lidocaine or corticosteroids.
The doctor has the discretion to choose the best course of action for therapy.
A solid filament needle is used in physical therapy to benefit the musculoskeletal system. A “reset” is a common term used to describe this. Because it has been demonstrated to have favourable effects on the following:
- muscular movement
- an increased muscle’s ability to fire, contract, and maintain our skeletal system
Therefore, dry needling can be used to increase body mobility and function and decrease pain by combining the use of a solid filament needle with the physiotherapist’s advanced knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and neurophysiology of the body.
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Dry Needling Pros and Cons
Thinking if dry needling is a good approach for you? Here are the pros and cons of dry needling:
The Pros
Not as Invasive
In comparison to manual exercises and manual therapies, there’s no argument that dry needling is a much less invasive treatment. Hence, it’s suitable for patients that are unable to undertake manual exercises and therapies due to their condition.
Effective as an Alternative
Dry needling makes an effective pain-reducing alternative for those that are unable to tolerate surgeries, injections, and medication side effects.
Precise
The use of dry needling enables the therapist to target certain painful muscles. It is considerably more exact than many other treatments like manual therapy and stretching methods, which are both better used to treat broad areas than focus on a specific area.
Greater Recovery Speed
Dry needling has the potential to promote faster healing than other types of therapy.
It has been shown that using dry needling can both hasten the process of recovering from physical damage and aid in extending range of motion by encouraging blood flow to and around wounded tissues. In turn, this gives cells the nourishment they need to heal themselves.
As a result, there is a decrease in discomfort, swelling, pain, and muscular spasms.
Dry needling promotes quicker recovery because it lessens the production of scar tissue when tissues are injured.
Utilize in Addition to Other Therapies
To treat a variety of conditions, dry needling can be performed alone or in conjunction with other therapies.
Enhances Posture
The use of dry needling can aid in improving posture. Bad body mechanics, muscle imbalance, excessive bone and joint stress, and generalised body pain can all be effects of poor posture.
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The Cons
There are certainly many advantages to dry needling, but there are also drawbacks that cannot be denied. Now let’s think about those drawbacks.
Injury
When performed improperly, the technique of dry needling can be harmful. This is due to the technique’s high level of precision.
Even when the procedure is used correctly, the patient may still sustain harm, especially if the treatment is administered to more delicate locations such those near the mouth or eyes.
Bruising and swelling
Needles that are inserted can result in edoema and bruising. Due to the risk of bruising, dry needling may not be recommended if you have thin skin or certain medical conditions.
Due to increased inflammation, dry needling can also shorten the duration of pain. But the intensity of the discomfort will almost certainly diminish after the first few days.
It is advisable to avoid dry needling in people with bleeding disorders since the needles might cause internal bleeding, which increases the risk of complications.
Potential Allergic Response
Titanium needles are required for dry needling. Some people may experience an allergic reaction to titanium, which could lead to rashes, itching, extreme redness, and swelling.
It is strongly advised to refrain from receiving additional dry needling treatments if you experience an allergic reaction because doing so could make your situation worse and even lead you to pass away from anaphylactic shock.
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Short-term Pain
One of the benefits of dry needling? It provides quick outcomes. However, there is a higher level of discomfort and agony in the first few days following therapy, which can be very unsettling.
Dry needling can occasionally make a patient feel worse until their body starts to respond to the treatment better, which usually happens over the course of repeated treatments.
Costly
In the US, dry needling therapy typically costs $30 to $85; in the UK, it starts at £20 and goes up from there. Although not terribly expensive, there is a significant difference when compared to the cost of painkillers.
Due to the requirement for specific tools and professional permits, dry needling is more expensive. Although insurance companies frequently pay for these expenses, it may still be a problem if you, the patient, have only a restricted insurance plan.
Needs a Lot of Training
Dry needling is a highly skilled process that requires substantial training. Only medical professionals who have undergone the necessary training should use the procedure, such as physical therapists and doctors.
Additionally, as previously indicated, dry needling also calls for medical equipment that must be repeatedly sterilised and maintained, both of which raise the overall cost.
FAQ’s related to Dry Needling Pros and Cons
Is dry needling effective?
Dry needling is an extremely powerful method of therapy that has been shown to be beneficial in numerous clinical investigations.
What happens when a nerve is pinched by dry needling?
Even while direct nerve damage from needles used for acupuncture or dry needling are uncommon, they can be significant when they do happen, as was demonstrated in a research published in the Archives of Family Medicine.
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What does plantar fasciitis dry needling cost?
The price of dry needling for Plantar Fasciitis can range from $44 to $85, depending on the practitioner.
Is dry needling similar to acupuncture?
Between the two, there are some parallels and distinctions. A solid filament needle is used by dry needling practitioners to aid in achieving the desired outcomes. The majority of acupuncture schools are founded on the rich legacy of Chinese medicine, however dry needling is solely based on the theories and findings of Western medicine. It is an additional tool for treating trigger points and dealing with myofascial limitations.
What conditions can dry needling be used to treat?
Dry needling can be used for a variety of musculoskeletal problems. Muscles are thought to be a primary contributing factor to the symptoms. Such conditions include (but are not limited to) neck, back, and shoulder pain, arm pain (tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, golfer’s elbow), headaches (including migraines and tension-type headaches), jaw pain, buttock pain, leg pain (sciatica, hamstrings strains, calf tightness/spasms), and foot and ankle pain. The treatment of muscles has the greatest effect on reducing pain mechanisms in the nervous system.
What type of conditions can dry needling treat?
Dry needling is ideal for those who suffer from chronic, long-term pain caused by repeated stress or injury.
However, dry needling therapy can also help people with acute pain brought on by transitory injury. Dry needling therapy is frequently sought after by those who have previously received manual physical therapy.
When trying to relieve pain and stress, dry needling is frequently the next step if these therapies have failed.
Numerous ailments can benefit from this type of physical therapy needling, including:
Chronic or long-term pain
Muscular strains
Ligament sprains
Neck pain
Muscle spasms
Lower back pain
Sciatica nerve pain
Shoulder pain and frozen shoulder syndrome
Tennis and golfer’s elbow
Plantar Fasciitis
Athletic stiffness or strain
Hip and glute pain
Knee pain
Achilles tendonitis
Headaches and migraines
Dry needling is suggested as a supplemental therapy to other conventional therapies for people who require intensive physical therapy.
Does dry needling hurt?
Dry needling does cause some discomfort, however this discomfort is just momentary and should disappear quickly. You should experience a brief sting of discomfort when the needle is inserted into a particular trigger point, but this should pass quickly.
As indicated before, the muscle should twitch in response to the dry needle being inserted. During the therapy session, this can occasionally cause a dull, deep discomfort or a cramping feeling in the targeted muscle.
Your muscles could feel sensitive or achy after receiving dry needling therapy. However, in general, this is a sign that the therapy was effective.
I hope this article had provided complete information on dry needling pros and cons and also what exactly is dry needling.
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