Dry Needling
Dry needling is an effective therapeutic intervention where a needle is used to release tight bands in muscles called trigger points. Trigger points are what you may know as ‘muscle knots’ and can be described as hyper-irritable spots in the muscles that are associated with palpable nodules or bands.
Trigger points can be painful when touched and can also cause pain referral over larger areas leading to movement dysfunctions that interrupt your daily activities. There are unique trigger points associated with each muscle and each creates a specific pain referral pattern, this is why the pain may not necessarily show up at the location of the trigger point.
Unlike acupuncture, once inserted, the needle is advanced several times in and around the tight band to create what’s called a “twitch response” or as we describe it, a release of the muscle. Dry needling targets specific myofascial trigger points, whereas contemporary medical acupuncture needles may be used in anatomically defined neurofunctional sites and then either left in, or stimulated with electricity.
Provided by Dr. Dana Richards, Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
Dr. Dana received her certification in dry needling from Acupuncture Canada in 2023. The incorporation of dry needling into her practice allows Dr. Dana to quickly and effectively release trigger points that may not have responded to other means of treatment. Dry needling can be of great help in long term hip pain or shoulder and neck pain if it is originating from myofascial trigger points. Dr. Dana looks forward to expanding her dry needling education with another level of certification in the future years.
