What is Dry Needling?
Myofascial pain is a common pain which arise within a muscle from the formation of a
‘trigger point.’ The ‘trigger point’ is a small spot within a band of tight muscle fibres or within the muscles fascia which is often painful on palpation and can cause referring pain to other areas in the limb. They can be generated by acute injuries, chronic overloading of a muscle and muscular imbalances within the body.
Dry needling involves the use of fine, sterile needles, inserted into the affect muscle’s ‘trigger points’ in order to stimulate a natural response from the body to release constrictions and allow normal muscle function. This technique can be used in conjunction with other podiatry treatments or alone to improve muscle functioning and reduce pain in the lower limbs.
Dry needling is a useful adjunct therapy in the treatment of conditions which involve muscular dysfunction such as:
- Shin splints
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles Tendon pain
- Leg pain (hamstrings, thigh and calf muscles)
- Muscle spasms and cramping
- Recovery from physical exercise
What to expect:
The needles used for dry needling are very fine which means they are not usually painful when penetrating the skin.When the needle enters the muscle, a short sharp burst of what feels like a muscle cramp may occur, only if the muscle is dysfunctional and contains trigger point. This cramp sensation only occurs for a second or two and is known as the “twitch response.”
Afterward the procedure, mild muscle soreness can be felt in the muscle/s where the needle was inserted, lasting up to two days. Your podiatrist will run through a series of gentle stretches and advice the use of heat packs in order to overcome any discomforts following your appointment.