Dry needling is treatment that involves stimulating your muscle’s trigger points to promote healing.
Dry needling is related to acupuncture, but is generally performed by physiotherapists. It is a specialised treatment that involves stimulating a muscle’s trigger points to promote healing.
Our qualified Physios use very fine sterile acupuncture needles which they insert gently through your skin to relieve muscle pain and stimulate new cell growth.
The ultrathin stainless steel filiform needles don’t release any fluid (hence the term ‘dry needling’) and the physio will leave them in your skin for a short period of time.
Dry needling is also sometimes referred to as ‘intramuscular stimulation’ and our experienced physiotherapists use this proven technique to assist patients with pain relief, reduce inflammation in specific areas and to relax muscle spasms.
Dry needling is also used to target myofascial trigger points (hard knots in the muscle) to improve mobility and functionality of the affected area. When the tension and knots are released as a result of the needling, the flow of blood and oxygen to the area increases which promotes faster healing.
Trained Physio and Fitness patients can experience immediate pain relief from dry needling, although a series of treatments is typically recommended for the best results.
During your treatment, a fine, sterile needle is inserted into a myofascial trigger point or taut area within the muscle. The tiny injury created stimulates the repair of damaged tissue with new, healthy tissue.
Also known as myofascial trigger point dry needling, our trained physiotherapists will use it as an effective treatment for acute injuries and muscle spasms or imbalances. It can relieve a range of problems including:
If you are suffering from muscular pain or nerve pain, this could be a suitable treatment for you. Dry needling is used to treat both acute (sudden) and chronic (long term) painful conditions.
Dry needling has a number of benefits which include:
Trained Physio & Fitness work off extended consult times so our clients never feel rushed while they are seeing our team. We offer 60 min Initial consults and 30 min for any follow up appointments you may require.
We understand that some patients may feel a little apprehensive about the prospect of dry needling, but rest assured, there is nothing to fear.
Dry needling is a safe, simple and effective procedure, carried out by our experienced and caring physiotherapists and the needles they use are exceptionally thin. You are highly unlikely to feel any pain or discomfort when the needles are inserted. In actual fact, the majority of our patients notice an immediate reduction in their symptoms after their first dry needling session.
At your first dry needling appointment, your physiotherapist will discuss how the process will work and answer any questions you may have. Remember, there’s no such thing as a silly question or area of concern, so feel free to ask us anything!
It’s a good idea to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your appointment so that the physio can access the treatment area.
Once the physio has sterilised the area, they will insert the ultrafine needles into the affected tissue. They will leave the needles in your skin for a period of time (the length will vary from patient to patient), but typically the procedure takes around 10 – 15 minutes.
Dry needling involves the insertion of an ultrathin ‘dry’ needle into targeted areas of soft tissue to treat pain, reduce inflammation and spasms, improve muscle function and promote healing. The solid stainless steel needles penetrate the skin and stimulate the underlying muscle and myofascial trigger points (knots in the muscle). No medication is required and this proven and effective technique is performed by an experienced physiotherapist to target areas they weren’t able to reach using their hands or by joint manipulation.
Many people use the term ‘acupuncture’ and ‘dry needling’ interchangeably, but they are actually two entirely different concepts.
Both techniques puncture the skin using very fine needles to trigger particular responses for therapeutic purposes. However, acupuncture has its origins in traditional Chinese medicine and dates back thousands of years. It originated as a way of correcting the flow of ‘chi’ through the body and bringing it back into balance and is now used to treat a variety of conditions including allergies, substance-dependency and pain.
On the other hand, dry needling is a newer, Western technique. It was designed to target specific locations and release tension using needles to relieve muscle pain, tightness and spasm.
Dry needling can help:
It is widely used as a safe, effective evidence-based treatment for a variety of sports injuries, shoulder pain, rotator cuff issues, ITB (iliotibial band syndrome), Achilles tendonitis, lower back pain, tennis elbow, headaches, general muscle pain and muscle stiffness. It has even been used to treat pain associated with complex medical conditions like fibromyalgia.
The thin needles inserted into the targeted areas stimulate the muscles to ‘twitch’ and release, thereby helping to alleviate pain, ease inflammation and reduce tension and tightness. Dry needling also stimulates bloodflow to the targeted area which promotes healing.
No special qualifications or certifications are required to perform dry needling in Australia. However, if you have dry needling in our Perth physiotherapy studio, you can have total confidence that the procedure will be done by our skilled and experienced physiotherapists and that it is safe and effective.
The vast majority of people who have dry needling say it is a pain-free experience. A limited number of patients experience mild discomfort when the muscle ‘twitches’ or contracts in response to the stimulation from the ultrathin needles, but this is generally minimal and only lasts for a few seconds.
Dry needling is a clinically proven, safe procedure, but as with any medical treatment, there are always potential risks. Minor side effects can include localised bruising and tenderness at the site which can last up to 24 hours post treatment and a mild, dull ache during the procedure. Our knowledgeable physiotherapists are always happy to chat about any concerns you may have prior to undergoing treatment.
10 – 15 minutes.
Most of our patients only need one or two dry needling sessions to achieve the desired results, while others need multiple sessions. It all depends on the nature of your injury or illness and how your body responds to the treatment. Our patients generally report immediate improvement after a single session.
Yes. Dry needling is often paired with physiotherapy, massage and exercises (ideally prescribed by an exercise physiologist) to expedite recovery and prevent recurring bands of tightness in the muscles (trigger points).
Are you hampered by muscle pain, tightness or tension? Dry needling could be the answer. Our experts in dry needling in Perth will get you back to pain-free mobility quickly and safely. Call us now on 08 9325 7602 or book an appointment online and experience the proven results of dry needling for yourself.
Trained Physio & Fitness work off extended consult times so our clients never feel rushed while they are seeing our team. We offer 60 min Initial consults and 30 min for any follow up appointments you may require.
