Dry needling is a procedure whereby acupuncture needles are inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. A myofascial trigger point is often more commonly referred to as a ‘knot’. They are tender nodules in a taut band of muscle that are generated by overuse, overstretching or overloading of a muscle.

There are 2 types of trigger points:

Active - One that causes pain and symptoms the patient recognises. These will be reproduced with pressure on the trigger point.

Latent - One that is only tender when pressure is put on it. The patient will not recognise this as their pain. Factors such as trauma, temperature changes and/or poor posture can contribute to the development of latent trigger points.

When the needle is properly placed this elicits a twitch response, releasing the trigger point and helping to ease pain.

While the insertion of the acupuncture needles themselves are normally barely felt, the local twitch response required to release the trigger points may produce a very brief pain response. Many patients describe this as being similar to a small electric shock or a cramping sensation.

It is important to note that dry needling is not the same as acupuncture. Dry needling is strictly based on western medicine principles of treating myofascial trigger points, which are different to traditional acupuncture points.