DRY NEEDLING BY SANDEEP KUMAR RAJAVELU BALACHANDER
Dry needling is a specific clinical technique used by soft tissue therapists to control pain, reduce muscle tension, normalize biomechanical and electrical dysfunction of motor endplates, and facilitate an accelerated return to active rehabilitation (AAOMPT 2009). It is a technique that is used to treat dysfunctions in skeletal muscle, fascia, and connective tissue to help diminish persistent peripheral nociceptive input that enables reduction of impairments of body structure and function, which eventually leads to improved activity and participation in activities of daily living. Dry needles are solid filiform surgical steel grade needles that are used to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points. This contrasts with the use of hollow hypodermic needles to inject substances like saline solution, Botox, or corticosteroids to help relieve pain and discomfort. Pain and dysfunction in soft tissue is the result of taught bands or inflammatory muscle fibers which develop trigger and/or tender points as well as painful areas along the flow of the peripheral nerves or the pain pathways. In lay language, instead of digging our fingers into the sore parts, we can insert a needle to do the same job.
Needle insertion can be done at areas of myofascial tension (commonly referred to by patients as ‘knots’), bone periosteum (where tissues fixate to bone and are the source of pain i.e. shin splints) or other soft tissues. As the needles are inserted into the areas of tension, the focal invasion causes the tissue to react. This reaction is promptly followed by a degree of tissue relaxation and hopefully a reduction in pain. Dry needling is helpful when treating a large area of muscle tension. In addition, patients who are sensitive to touch when in acute pain often find dry needling extremely effective as their tightness can be released with minimal hands-on therapy. Dry needling is indicated in the following conditions but not limited to them: Tennis Elbow, Golfers Elbow, Sciatica, Slipped Disc, Neuropathy, Osteoarthritis of the knee joints, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Frozen Shoulder, Calcaneum Spur, Plantar Fasciitis, Cervical Spondylosis and radiculopathies, Chronic Migraine, Temporo Mandibular pain and stiffness, and excessive leg swelling. The healing pattern is not predictable and varies from person to person depending on the condition and the nature of pain.The results are quicker in acute conditions as opposed to chronic conditions. In general, it’s safe to say that it takes a few days to see results and they are cumulative too.
25 Eclipse Drive, P. O. Box 10742 George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-1007
Phone : (345) 943-8700 Fax : (345) 943-8701
www.thephysiotherapycenter.com
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