DRY NEEDLING at Hillcrest Physiotherapy in Abbotsford
Do you suffer from chronic or acute pain? Many patients at Hillcrest Physiotherapy in Abbotsford get relief with Dry Needling. It is particularly effective for such problems as chronic neck, back and shoulder pain, headaches, tendonitis, and jaw pain.
After your comprehensive assessment, your physiotherapist may recommend Dry Needling, usually combined with other therapies.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry Needling is a science-based system where your specially trained physiotherapist inserts tiny needles into trigger points. Myofascial trigger points in your body refer pain to different areas. The tiny needles are able to normalize and stabilize the chemicals in the trigger points, which decreases pain and muscle tension.
Trigger points often occur on your neck, back and arms. Runners often have trigger points on their legs. But Dry Needling also helps many conditions like:
- Headaches
- Shoulder pain
- Rotator cuff damage
- Knee pain
- Sciatica
- Hip and gluteal pain
- Achilles’ tendonitis
- Plantar fasciitis
How do I know if I have trigger points causing my pain?
A trigger point probably feels like a “knot.” If you poke or rub the area, it hurts, probably hurts there and possibly somewhere else (sometimes not even close by!) or radiates in the surrounding areas. Trigger points tend to cause more widespread pain than just in the muscle where they are found. A trigger point is often tender to the touch and may cause pain at any time.
This technique also helps muscular issues not involving trigger points, like rotator cuff damage.
Most importantly, your physiotherapist knows if you have trigger points causing your pain, even if you don’t know. As part of your initial and ongoing assessments, they will keep you informed.
Dry Needling – What to Expect
Your physiotherapist at Hillcrest Physiotherapy in Abbotsford inserts tiny needles into your skin. There is no injection, no liquid inserted, so the needles are much thinner. The needles are so thin that many patients don’t feel them at all, but some do feel a twitch when the trigger point starts to release. This is usually a very good sign that the therapy is working!
You may find that Dry Needling immediately reduces muscle tension, increases your flexibility, and widens your range of motion.
Is Dry Needling like acupuncture?
Yes and no. Both therapies use tiny needles, but the philosophies are quite different. Therapeutic dry Needling is scientific, Western medicine focusing on muscle groups and the body’s physical structure. Acupuncture is Chinese medicine focusing on balancing the flow of energy in the body.
In Summary
If your physiotherapist at Hillcrest Physiotherapy in Abbotsford recommends Dry Needling, you are in for a treat! Many patients feel some immediate pain and muscle tension relief. Call today to discover how Dry Needling could solve your chronic or acute pain.