Dry Needling and How It Can Help Reduce Back Pain

BACK PAIN DOCTOR

Dry Needling is a treatment that uses long acupuncture needles inserted into body regions to reduce pain. There are different methods employed by various healthcare practitioners who utilize this technique, but this blog discusses one technique taught at seminars on the east coast. This healing method helps to mitigate muscle spasm and connective tissue hypertonicity in unique ways that involve neither drugs nor surgery. It is a treatment modality which might prove beneficial to may pain sufferers who have not experienced relief elsewhere.

Using this healing method of DNT, healers insert acupuncture needles ranging in length from 1” to 4” into areas of trigger point, muscle spasm or other irritation. The needle’s presence produces tissue changes that allow those irritated areas to reboot and heal. Because the needles are so long, they can enter regions that are inaccessible to many other healing modalities, including the deep hips and shoulders. In the back, needles insertion is in such a manner as to run along the course of back muscles. Needles are not directed toward the interior. The insertion technique allows the long needles to elicit change along several vertebral units or between the shoulder blades, for instance.

The sensation of dry Needling is not unpleasant. Patients should prepare to expose irritated tissue areas for palpation and possible deep prodding. Needles insertion is relatively quick; depending on the number of needles used this process could take 10-20″. Plan to rest unmoving on the treatment table an additional 10-15”, as well, with needles inserted.

Many people are understandably concerned that DNT could pierce vital organs and cause damage. Needle insertion is performed very carefully in such a manner as not to injure underlying soft tissue or organs. Practitioners guide the very fine, bendable filaments in such a way that they penetrate safely. Hyperstimulation or repeated plunging or twisting of the needles is not suggested n this technique, which reduces the possibility of injury further. Also, electrostimulation is not generally applied to the needles in this type of DNT, although other methods may use that.

Although the technique uses acupuncture needles, it does not depend on acupuncture meridian or channel or element theory for diagnosis or to achieve results. Additionally, proponents declare that it is not acupuncture. The author is not convinced of this argument because the acupuncture technique does allow for deep tissue stimulation using acupuncture needles. Nonetheless, many states allow trained healthcare practitioners from a variety of backgrounds, including DCs and PTs, to use this technique.

Dry Needle Technique is a healing type that deserves your attention. If you have back or hip or shoulder pain, or other types of musculoskeletal pain, and would like to try this type of DNT, contact a Back Pain doctor in Cincinnati today.

Thanks to Acupractic Natural Healing Center at Eastowne for their insight into chiropractic care and dry needling.