Dry Needling: Your Questions Answered

Just a few weeks ago we posted an article about dry needling, just one of the many services we offer at our central Auckland physiotherapy clinic. It prompted quite a response from readers, with many of them wanting to know the answers to three big questions: what does it feel like, is it safe, and how would it fit into my physio rehab programme? If you’ve got the same questions on your mind, here are the answers.

• What does it feel like? In other words, does it hurt! Actually, the needle insertion is barely felt, if at all. The local twitch response or sudden slight contraction of the affected muscle might trigger the briefest flash of pain, often described as feeling like an electric shock or a cramping sensation. It’s all perfectly normal and the type of reaction we are after. During your dry needling session, and depending on the technique we use, you can expect to feel heaviness in the limbs or even a pleasant or relaxed feeling. Following the session, you may feel some muscle soreness for anywhere between 24 to 48 hours. Applying heat or ice, depending on the needling site, and taking in lots of fluids is usually enough to reduce any soreness.
• Is it safe? In the right hands, like ours, dry needling is an extremely safe treatment. We’re highly trained and all dry needling is carried out to the highest hygiene standards using sterile needles. The needles are extremely fine and very rarely does bleeding or bruising occur at the insertion site. Like any form of medical treatment, you should only deal with qualified practitioners who know what they’re doing. The team at Cairnhill Physiotherapy certainly have the expertise to ensure a safe experience for you.
• How will dry needling fit into my physio rehab programme? Every patient is different but it is common to use dry needling at the beginning of your treatment program if you’re suffering from acute injuries, muscle spasms or muscle pattern imbalances. Once the pain is managed, other physio treatment options are used. Of course, this all depends on your individual circumstances.

Dry needling is now seen as a highly effective treatment, and this is why it is being widely accepted as an important part of mainstream healthcare. If you have any more questions about this technique, and if it can help you overcome that chronic and painful condition, contact us and we’ll give you the answers you’re after.