Acupuncture and dry needling are similar in the fact that they both treat many forms or musculoskeletal pain and imbalances in the body’s various systems. The ailments that these two methods can relieve are quite extensive. Both also use hair-thin stainless steel needles that are inserted on various parts of the skin or directly into a problematic muscle. Acupuncture however has been around for thousands of years, where dry needling is a newer form of treatment.
ACUPUNCTURE
This method has been around for over 4,000 years, a form of traditional Chinese medicine. The belief is that treatment on one part of the body can affect a different part of the body, even internally. For example you may have the thin stainless steel needles inserted into your left side in order to treat pain on the right side. This helps the body restore its health and natural balance. Treatment can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, where you rest quietly after the needles are inserted. The hair-thin, bendable needles feel barely there.
Acupuncture can be used to treat forms of chronic pain like arthritis, back pain, migraines, depression, allergies, and many others. It’s a safe and effective way to bring your body back to equilibrium.
DRY NEEDLING
This form of treatment is called as such because nothing is injected into the skin as the needle is dry. A very thin tipped needle is inserted into the point of restriction or pain, directed at a problematic muscle or knot. This then releases the myofascial trigger points, sometimes creating a twitching sensation as the muscle returns back to a relaxed state. The involuntary muscle movement can feel a bit odd, but is a good sign that the treatment is working!
Dry needling also helps to bring blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients back to the restricted muscle that have become tight, uncomfortable, or potentially painful. It can treat a number of ailments including spine and disk problems, back pain, joint pain, migraines, tendinitis, and many others.
OVERALL HEALTH BENEFITS
In combination with chiropractic care, acupuncture and dry needling provide an endless amount of benefits, using a minimally invasive technique over short periods of time or sessions. At Goodyear, our acupuncturist and dry needling specialist uses both Eastern and Western methodology to provide an effective and holistic form of personalized care.