What is dry needling?
Dry needling involves inserting an extremely thin needle into muscles with excessive tension. It uses a dry needle, meaning no fluid is injected into the muscle. The needle is used to briefly stimulate the muscle, typically by targeting a specific trigger point or tight muscle band. The result is a deep relaxation of the muscle in a very short time. As a consequence, your muscles may feel stiff and tired during or after the treatment. However, afterwards, you will notice that the muscles are smoother and more relaxed.
What is a trigger point?
A trigger point is a local, painful spot or knot in a muscle fiber that, when pressure is applied, can also cause pain in another location of the body. These painful spots in the muscles can lead to muscle stiffness, movement restrictions, and even radiating pain. A trigger point usually develops in response to excessive tension, overuse, or injury in a muscle. When a muscle is excessively tense, local accumulation of waste products can occur, leading to irritation of nerve endings and the formation of a trigger point.
What do you feel during the treatment?
When the needle is correctly placed in a trigger point, it can cause a brief, involuntary muscle contraction (spasm). This is called a “twitch.” This stimulation of the trigger point can be painful but does not last long. The goal of the twitch is to relax the muscle, improve blood flow, and deactivate the trigger point.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
Both techniques involve using a thin, dry needle inserted into the body. However, the theory behind the treatments differs. Dry needling is based on Western medicine and focuses on specific muscle issues. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine in which needles are inserted along meridian lines and purportedly balance the flow of energy in the body.
Treatment at VoetPortaal
At Voet- en RugPortaal, we always consider the most effective way to treat your complaints. It is important to identify the cause of these trigger points. Treating only the trigger points without addressing their cause provides only temporary relief. Therefore, we use dry needling in combination with other treatment methods.