DRY NEEDLING:  

Dry needling is a procedure where filiform needles are tapped through the skin to the target tissue to bring about a therapeutic effect.

No medicine is delivered, thus it  is called " dry, " compared to injection, which are "wet".

Trigger-point dry needling is an invasive procedure where a fine needle or acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin and muscle. 

It is aimed at myofascial trigger points , which are hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band.

Trigger point dry needling can be carried out at superficial or deep tissue level.

Mechanisms of action

Dry needling has been shown to immediately increase pressure pain threshold and range of motion, decrease muscle tone, and decrease pain in patients with musculoskeletal conditions. Its suggested mechanisms of action include: 

Local Twitch Response: Dry needling can elicit ‘local twitch response’ which is an involuntary spinal reflex resulting in a localized contraction of the affected muscles that are being dry needled. Local twitch response can lead to alteration in the length and tension of muscles fibers and stimulate mechanoreceptors like A Beta fibers.

Effects on Blood Flow: Sustained contraction of taut muscle bands in trigger points might cause local ischemia and hypoxia. Dry needling causes vasodilation in the small blood vessels leading to increased muscle blood flow and oxygenation.

Neurophysiological effects: Dry needling may produces local and central nervous responses to restore hemostasis at the site of the trigger point which results in reduction in both central and peripheral sensitization to pain.

Remote Effects: Dry needling of distal  has been found to have analgesic effect on proximal  The literature has conflicting evidence regarding the contralateral effect.

INDICATION OF DRY NEEDLING:

 Dry needling is used to increase range of motion that may be limited due to muscle tightness or scar tissue. Dry needling may also treat:

 1. Joint problems

 2. Disk problems 

3 . Tendinitis 

4. Migraine and tension-type headaches 

5. Jaw and mouth problems (such as temporomandibular joint disorders or TMD)

6. Whiplash Repetitive motion disorders (like carpal tunnel syndrome)

7. Spinal problems Pelvic pain

8.  Night cramps

 9. Phantom pain

 10. Post-herpetic neuralgia (pain left behind by shingles)

Contraindications

 You should not have dry needling if you have an infection until after the infection completely resolves. Pregnant women, people who are unable to understand the purpose of dry needling, and people who are very afraid of needles should not undergo dry needling.

  • Bleeding disorders
  • Compromised immune system
  • Diabetes
  • Epilepsy
  • Lymphedema Vascular disease

Side effects associated with dry needling include:

  •  Soreness during or after the procedure
  • Bleeding where the needles were inserted 
  • Fainting
  • Fatigue 
  • Skin bruising