If you’ve never heard about dry needling before, you wouldn’t be alone. Many Americans are rediscovering this time-tested method of promoting musculoskeletal healing. Using needles to help you heal may sound strange, but it’s been a common medical practice for decades. We’ve had some people interested in trying Dry Needling, but do not know where to start. We wrote the article below to help you find the best areas of the body to try dry needling. The benefits may surprise you.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a technique used to ease muscle pain. It consists of a practitioner pinpointing certain spots on your body and inserting needles there. The spots chosen are known as “trigger points” that are typically knotted or hard muscles. After poking the trigger point, the muscles relax. The relaxation leads to less muscular pain and spasms. It’s a technique that’s been around for a while but is gaining popularity. In our clinics, Dry Needling is paired with correction of spinal and joint misalignment to restore joint motion and function and to open any nerve pathway that is being compressed or pinched off.
Where is The Best Area Of The Body To Try Dry Needling?
Many people’s biggest concern with dry needling is the pain involved. We are happy to report the pain is minimal to nonexistent and the relief makes any discomfort worth it. If you’re still unsure about how it will feel, the best area of the body to try dry needling is your back. Your back has the most easily accessible trigger points and also has less skin surface sensitivity than other areas of the body like the hands or feet.
Dry Needling vs Acupuncture
Acupuncture and dry needling may seem similar. They both consist of inserting thin, stainless steel needles into the body. That’s where the similarities end. Acupuncture treats illness and discomfort by opening up energy pathways in Eastern Medicine known as chi. Dry needling treats trigger specific points using modern-day Western Medicine to relieve pain. The differences set them apart as acupuncture treats through energy channels and Dry Needling treats through what is known of the neuromuscular system and subsequently its effect on the entire body.
What are the Benefits of Dry Needling?
The benefits of Dry needling, we covered in a previous article, but here’s a brief summary. It provides relief for muscle pain as well as stiffness. Easing trigger points can also improve flexibility and range of motion. This is why it’s so popular among athletes to treat sports injuries. It can also help with headaches, shoulder pain, knee pain, and hip pain. Dry needling can also be beneficial after car accidents and help with whiplash. Also, dry needling has been known to assist with shin splints, and tendonitis and has had positive effects on other ailments like Pudendal Neuralgia.
Summary
Dry needling is a modern technique using thin needles to trigger healing in specific areas. While it is similar to acupuncture, it has many differences that set it apart. Dry needling can help relieve pain in many areas and can also help with soreness. It can also promote flexibility and range of motion. The popularity of dry needling is only increasing due to its effectiveness. The best area of the body to try dry needling is your back. Your back has the most easily accessible trigger points and also can hurt less than other areas of the body.
If you’d like to set up an appointment for dry needling or would like more advice visit us at one of our offices, in Erie or in Longmont. The Chiropractic Center of Erie and Chiropractic Center of Longmont treat the body holistically with our award-winning treatment process to help your body achieve and maintain optimal performance. We specialize in treating patients suffering from back pain and have helped several patients find relief without the need for surgery. If you’d like to learn more about chiropractic care in Longmont or Erie or have questions about what to expect during your first chiropractor visit in Erie or Longmont, call our offices today at 303-828-3000 or 303-772-1950!
