Dry Needling

Dry needling and acupuncture have quite a few similarities! The best way to describe the difference is that acupuncture uses a traditional Chinese medicine theoretical framework to determine treatment parameters and placement, whereas dry needling uses western musculoskeletal frameworks of medicine to determine treatment. The use of supplemental e-stim is also found more often in dry needling, as the data seems to be quite promising. In terms of needle placement, there are often overlapping points between dry needling and acupuncture. In simple terms, the “what” between acupuncture and dry needling is fairly similar, although the “why” to explain where to place the needles and why it can be effective is often different, as traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture talk more about meridians and the idea of “chi” while dry needling bases it’s rationale on our current knowledge of the musculoskeletal system.

Although it may seem like witchcraft, the current body of data supports the use of dry needling for multiple indications! My preference is with the use of e-stim, however most forms of DN are still effective. The most substantial evidence exists for the use of dry needling to temporarily reduce pain, increase blood flow, improve muscle recruitment and output, change resting muscle tone, combat muscle atrophy, and even sharpen somatosensory maps (getting a sharper picture of sensory data in the brain). 

Most musculoskeletal pain syndromes like chronic pain in the low back, shoulder, neck, knee, elbow, and even headaches can all improve with dry needling! I often use it with someone who is coming in with stiff, hypertonic, and often painful muscle contraction surrounding a joint due to injury, overuse, or even neglect! Dry needling allows us to get the pain reduction, blood flow, and relaxation needed to start loading irritated tissue again so that we can restore proper function.