Trigger points are taut irritable bands, commonly known as ‘knots’ present within a muscle. Trigger points can be tender to the touch, and touching a trigger point may cause pain in another part of the body, known as referred pain.
Treatment of trigger points can involve a technique called dry needling.
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture, where a very fine needle is inserted into the tissue containing the trigger point. Dry needling is a part of modern Western medicine principles and supported by clinical research.
A ‘twitch’ of the muscle frequently occurs upon contact of the needle with the trigger point. This twitch is your muscle contracting and then relaxing. It is the relaxing of the muscle, along with reduced pain and improved muscular function following the twitch that warrants the use of dry needling.
Dry needling is one possible treatment option, always combined with other techniques such as exercises to prevent recurrence. Your physiotherapist can perform a thorough evaluation to determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment as part of a program designed to reduce your pain and improve your function.
How will I feel after Dry Needling?
You may be sore right after treatment where Dry Needling was used. This does not always happen, but it is normal. Soreness may begin in a few hours or even the next day. The soreness may be different for each person. It usually feels like you had a hard workout at the gym. Soreness usually lasts 24-48 hours. Tell your provider at your next visit how long the soreness lasted.
Bruising from Dry Needling is possible. Some areas are more likely to bruise than others. The shoulders, chest, face and portions of the arms and legs are more likely to bruise than other areas. Large bruising is not common but can happen. Use ice to help decrease the bruising. If you are worried, please call your provider.
It is common to feel tired/fatigued, energized or “out of it” after treatment. This is a normal and can last up to an hour or two after treatment. If this lasts more than a day contact your provider as a precaution. Rarely, Dry Needling may actually make your symptoms worse. If this continues past the 24-48 hours, keep note of it. This can help your therapist change your treatment plan if needed. This does not mean Dry Needling cannot help your condition.
