Getting the therapies done will get your pain relief. Speaking of therapies, needling techniques are the best for many people out there. The use of small instruments will greatly impact the body’s muscular, skeletal, endocrine, and nervous systems. And if it is used properly, then it will get you the best results in a short amount of time.
Using needles requires knowledge of anatomy and physiology as well as hands-on experience. If you plan to get the dry needling therapy techniques done, stay on this blog. You will get to know about everything related to it.
Types of Dry Needling
Trigger Point
Trigger point dry needling is just what it sounds like; when your patient’s pain stems from an active trigger point, you can use a needle to address that spot until it releases directly. If your patient’s pain generator is a functional trigger point, then trigger point dry needling would be a very effective method.
- The risk is very medium, but if a trigger point is not the pain generator, this dry needling will not be effective, and you’ll need to go for another method.
- Needle Length: It could range anywhere from 25 mm to 125 mm.
- Example Use Case: If a patient’s myofascial pain in their neck is caused by a trigger point in the top of the trapezius, this method can relieve these pain symptoms.
Superficial
Many hands-on healthcare professionals commonly use superficial dry needling. The needle is only inserted a few millimetres into the skin. It reaches the epidermal layer but avoids the muscle or bone.
This technique of needling targets the sensorimotor system: the needle changes the sensory input and then changes the motor output. Pain can be significantly altered as well.
- The risk of this method is pretty much low because the needle does not penetrate many layers of the body. There’s a lower opportunity to cause damage to vital organs or neurovascular structures.
- Needle Length: A short needle. It can range from .3 mm to 10 mm.
- Example Use Case: In precarious areas like the thoracic spine, for example, clinicians run the risk of a high risk of puncturing a lung if the needle is inserted too deeply. Superficial dry needling is a perfect solution to change or alter this patient’s pain perception while avoiding the potential of injury.
Periosteal Pecking
Periosteal pecking uses a dry needle to peck at the bone to help it heal. It will trigger neuroendocrine responses, which, when done extracapsular, can help those dealing with painful osteoarthritis symptoms.
Hyaluronic acid production, anti-inflammatory processes, and increases in endogenous opioid levels are other reasons we think periosteal pecking is the right technique, specifically in knee osteoarthritis.
- For this method, the risk is high because inserting a needle into the joint capsule carries risk. Surgical implants and infection risk factors need to be considered for each patient.
- Needle Length: Enough to get close to or down to the bone.
- Example Use Case: If a person with knee osteoarthritis has pain, use periosteal pecking, with or without electrical stimulation. This can be done in and around the knee joint to alter pain perception in the area and help stimulate chemical reactions that can help kickstart the healing process.
Electrical Stimulation
The electrical stimulation to the needles is a form of dry needling. The addition of electrical stimulation triggers a neuroendocrine response different from needles alone. This form of dry needling taps into different pain modulation centres and pathways in the central nervous system, making it a possible choice for chronic pain patients and patients with osteoarthritis.
- This technique’s risk is moderate. It is because certain conditions are opposite to electrical stimulation, such as pacemaker patients. The risk of other systemic issues must be taken into account on an individual basis.
- Needle Length: Deep
Final Thoughts:
These dry-needling techniques in physical therapy will help you get relief from pain, and you will feel active. Read about the techniques and what will be done through these methods. Once you know which will fit your needs, book an appointment with a clinic.
When scheduling appointments, it’s essential to consider all aspects of the services you’re interested in. One specific example is inquiring about the cost of dry needling.
Synergy Spine and Health stand out as a premier healthcare clinic, offering top-notch dry needling therapy at rates that are both effective and budget-friendly.