What is Dry Needling? By Osteopath Cameron Allshorn

Here is a quick explainer post all about Dry Needling and why I find it useful as a complementary part of my osteopathic treatment.

Dry needling is a method of treatment I here at Rockhopper, it is a common technique that is used by many osteopaths and other allied health modalities. It is a safe and minimally invasive technique that has seen great results for many musculoskeletal injuries and ailments (1)

Most people find Dry Needling to be a relatively pain free technique, with only a small instance of pain as the needle is inserted or removed, feeling like a pinch. While the needles are in place you may feel a twitching sensation within the muscle fibres.

Here are a few points of information that may answer some of those questions you had.

Dry Needling is performed using a sterile single use fine acupuncture needle inserted into a muscle to decrease pain and increase mobility. The needles have a range of sizes and gauges (width), predominantly I use a 30-45mm length 0.22-0.30mm gauge needles to provide this treatment, though some larger muscle areas may require a larger needle.

Dry needling was developed on the principles of muscle bound myofascial trigger points that can cause pain and restrict movement. Myofascial trigger points or knots as they are known colloquially form after a muscle fibres are shortened during a contraction and are unable to relax. Overtime this trigger point can become sensitive causing increased pain and discomfort.  

The presence of the needle draws blood supply which carries oxygen and other nutrients to the area involved and allows for the muscle to relax over a short period of time allowing for increased mobility and reduced sensitivity once the needles have been removed.

Needles are located within the muscle tissue for a short period of time usually around 5 minutes and 10 minutes. The size of the treatment area will dictate how many needles are used with larger muscles requiring more needles.

Despite sharing equipment dry needling differs from acupuncture via the treatment approach. Dry needling is very specific to a particular muscle or muscle group as opposed to the approach of Acupuncture that uses the meridian points to guide the technique with the aim to treat various regions of the body.  

Dry needling is a great way to manage acute muscular symptoms and can be a great management option for many other ongoing conditions such as plantar fasciitis, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and patellofemoral pain plus many more.