Dry needling is an invasive procedure in which a
very thin, solid filament needle is inserted into the skin and muscle directly
at a myofascial trigger point. A trigger point is a taut band of
skeletal muscle located within a larger muscle group. Just touching a trigger
point can be tender but these contracted knots can also refer pain to other
areas of the body.
Dr. David Simons noted that, “Since no specialty
claims skeletal muscle as its organ, it is often overlooked.” In fact, muscles
can often be the primary contributing factor to the symptoms of pain, stiffness
and dysfunction. Dry needling can help relieve painful conditions of the neck,
back, shoulder and arm (tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, golfer’s elbow),
headaches, (both migraine and tension-type headaches), jaw pain (TMJ/TMD),
buttock pain and leg pain (sciatica, hamstring strains, calf tightness/spasms,
plantar fasciitis).
The insertion of a sterile needle into the taut
bands in the muscles has been scientifically proven to reduce the pain
mechanisms that are triggered in the nervous system. Numerous studies show that
releasing or inactivating the trigger points reduces muscle tension and
normalizes dysfunctions of the motor end plates (the sites at which nerve
impulses are transmitted to muscles).
Dry needling is not acupuncture, although there are
some similarities between the two modalities. Acupuncture is based on
traditional Chinese medicine and can only be performed by a licensed
acupuncturist. Dry needling on the other hand, is a part of modern, Western
medicine principles and research and is performed by a growing number of
physical therapists in the United States, Canada and Europe.
I have completed over one hundred hours of dry
needling course work through Myopain Seminars (www.myopainseminars.com).
I am certified through this agency and it is within my South Carolina
Practice Act to perform dry needling with any clients who qualify for this
pain-relieving modality. The initials CMTPT, after my name, stands for
Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist.