For Musculoskeletal and Sports Rehabilitation
For Musculoskeletal and Sports Rehabilitation
Dry needling is a method that impacts directly the myofascial trigger points which are very sensitive points also known as "knots" in the muscle and they can cause pain not only in the area but also in other parts of the body. The insertion of the needle generates what is called "local twitch response" or involuntary muscle contraction, which is the instant reaction of the muscle. Then the muscle relaxes and sheds the excess tension caused by the trigger point. The continuous pain signal cycle is interrupted by the dry needling procedure and consequently, it provides quicker and deeper pain relief for chronic pain (neck, back, shoulder) patients than usual surface massage.
Dry needling has a significant impact on the restoration of joint mobility and the whole body flexibility by its action of letting go of muscle knots and stretching the shortened muscles. The surrounding joints cannot move properly when a muscle is in a contracted state; the needle treatment makes the muscle as if it is at rest by bringing it back to its natural length. Such a process is a great boon for sports injury patients or simply people suffering from limited mobility in the hip, knee, or ankle who have such a straight and fluid movement during activity.
The slight injury that results from the needle puncturing the skin causes the body to naturally initiate the "healing cascade" through its own mechanism, resulting in the inflow of blood and oxygen to the spot. The area composed of blood almost exclusively gets the supply of all kinds of nutrients, and this supply helps in getting rid of toxins and the like that might otherwise be stuck in the tight muscle fibers. Dry needling, by kicking off a localized healing reaction, quickens the recovery of damaged muscle and connective tissues, which is why it is such a powerful method of treatment for both new wounds and chronic rehabilitation cases.
Dry needling serves to essentially "restart" the whole nervous system by restoring the normal chemical milieu around the muscles and nerves. Among the chemicals that induce hyperesthesia, substance P is one and dry needling is able to reduce its concentration, thus increasing the overall pain threshold. The advantage is especially important for dealing with problems like sciatica or carpal tunnel syndrome, as it decreases the nerve compression caused by muscles and enhances the interaction between the brain and the musculoskeletal system.