IS DRY NEEDLING THE SAME AS ACUPUNCTURE?
This is something we hear nearly every day in our clinic and frankly, the only similarity they have is use of a needle. We often tell people that a it’s as similar as a Ferrari and a Yugo. Both are cars and that’s about as much in common as they have. So then, what are the differences?
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient form of eastern medicine used to heal pain and other ailments. Needles are inserted for a moderate amount of time, on meridian lines and restore the flow of “chi” or life force/energy. The needles are not “pistoned” and the stretch reflex is not evoked or even sought after.
After anywhere from 1-15+ minutes, the needles are removed- often using 20 or more needles at a time. Specific research in the Western scientific world on acupuncture is scare and medical journals covering the topic are even scarcer. Even in the lower power meta analysis that have been performed, the effects have been neutral or minimal in nearly every case/study.
Very few adverse reactions are noted in literature.
What is Dry Needling?
Trigger Point Dry Needling uses a small diameter needle to a release a palpated trigger point within the muscle tissue via a reflex. A trained Physical Therapist with a skilled hand can locate that trigger point with palpation, but it can always be seen in infrared or even MRI technology.
Once the “twitch” is evoked in the muscle tissue, the nervous system regulates the twitch and signals the trigger to “reset” and relax.
Then the needle is inserted for 5-10 seconds and “pistoned” to find the trigger. Once provoked, the muscle has been reset and the needle is removed.
Dry Needling is heavily researched and you can find some more current research by Dr. Mark Rathjen here on our website and available on the blog. As noted in the literature, there are very few adverse effects that come from dry needling.
What Does It Mean?
In short, Trigger point dry needling uses scientific research and modern understanding of nervous system physiology to release trigger points and painful/stiff muscle tissue. It’s sometimes called “Acupuncture 10.0” meaning that it’s a modern, scientific version of an ancient art form. Here are some other common questions we get about Acupuncture:
1. Is true acupuncture performed today?
Absolutely.
2. Is it as effective as dry needling?
We don’t believe so and science has proven it many times over.
3. Should I ever get Acupuncture?
If you feel that it helps you then you certainly can.
4. Does dry needling or acupuncture have any risks?
Though similar in some ways, both techniques are extremely low risks. A skilled practitioner of either should be able to provide a safe treatment with very little risk of injury.
5. Does dry needling Hurt?
Our patients have said it can be uncomfortable and other times it’s more like a strange feeling. Often, however, the feeling is either very brief or not felt at all.
6. Can dry needling help my pain?
Absolutely. In almost all cases, trigger point dry needling can reduce pain in 1-3 visits 50-75% or more.
7. Can dry needling alone solve my problems?
Sometimes, however, it’s important to find the cause of your muscular pain and not just treat the symptoms. Needling allows us to fix the cause of your pain faster and more efficiently once a full examination has been performed. Dry needling is a great addition to treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, but only a part of a larger scale comprehensive treatment plan.
8. How long does it take to be skilled at dry needling?
To qualify for a course in in trigger point dry needling a person must be a licensed physical therapist or chiropractor. Advanced courses are given to those who have practiced for a longer period of time. A proficient practitioner is recognized by being current with modern research, dry needling full-time, and be continually adapting and learning the techniques (alongside current experience).
Dry needling is very safe, fast and performed with minimal discomfort. A visual explanation and video representation by Dr. Mark Rathjen PT, DPT, CSCS can be found at Youtube Demonstration on CORE’s own Youtube Channel.
If you’re feeling pain or injury, we encourage you to give us a call at (402) 933-4027 or Contact Us through our website. We can perform a thorough analysis of your pain and see if dry needling would be a good option to relieve your pain.