Dry Needling & Electroterapy

---

Dry needling is a technique where a fine needle is inserted into the skin, tissue and muscles with the intention of stimulating and disrupting the tissue.

The needles are “dry” which means no fluid in inserted into the body. The insertion of the dry needles should produce a reaction, resulting in muscle relaxation.

The treatment is often used to treat myofascial trigger points, which are spots (commonly known as “knots”) in the muscle that are hypersensitive and irritable and are usually responsible for tenderness and referred pain.

Dry needling is a neurophysiological evidence-based treatment technique that requires effective manual assessment of the neuromuscular system.

Physical therapists are well trained to utilise dry needling in conjunction with manual physical therapy interventions, such as osteopathy. Research supports that dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension, normalizes biochemical and electrical dysfunction of motor end plates, and facilitates an accelerated return to active rehabilitation. Treatments focus on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.

Although this treatment is relatively pain-free, a slight pinching feeling may be felt when the fine needles are inserted into the affected trigger points. A trigger point is a tender spot that is located within a tight band of muscle, which can cause an individual pain when it is pressed or squeezed.

Dry Needling is able to stimulate neural pathways which blocks pain by disrupting pain messages being sent to the central nervous system.

- Acute and chronic tendonitis
- Post-surgical pain
- Chronic pain conditions
- Lower back pain
- Athletic and sports-related overuse injuries
- Post-traumatic injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and work related injuries
- Whiplash and headaches 

Electrotherapy alongside dry needling focuses on targeting specifically tight tissue, therefore assisting with muscle and joint pain, increasing pain free movement as well as stimulating circulation around the area.

If you wish to have dry needling therapy as part of your osteopathic care, please feel welcome to speak to your osteopath. We are happy to educate our clients about benefits, suitability, treatment protocols and needling techniques.  Two of our Osteopaths have an advanced level qualification of dry needling which includes electrostimulation therapy. 

Safety, comfort and efficacy are priority to our choices regarding treatment.