By Dr. Truth Robinson, Acupuncturist in Manly
Acupuncture & Dry Needling both work to relieve physical issues like lower back pain, shoulder stiffness, neck tension and more. They both use thin, stainless steel needles inserted into the skin to stimulate better blood flow to an area. And while their aims are similar, their philosophies and backgrounds differ.
Background of Acupuncture & Dry Needling
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years and has some solid research of effectiveness.
Dry needling on the other hand is a relatively new technique, adopted only in the last couple of decades by physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, myotherapists and massage therapists.
The scope of dry needling focuses on trigger point theory, while acupuncture has a broader scope assessing not only musculoskeletal imbalances but also organ system health and lifestyle health.
Few people know that dry needling is actually an old acupuncture technique called Jing jin therapy. Jing jin works on the muscular-tendino or superficial layer of the meridians. Both dry needling and Jing Jin work to find sore areas called ‘Ah Shi’ points which literally means ‘ah, that’s it!’.
Acupuncturists, in other words, train to not only treat muscular pain but also to address and treat the underlying causes for that muscular pain.
Tension = Pain
What you feel as pain coming from the nerve is due to three nociceptors that pick up chemical, temperature and pressure changes in the body.
When muscle tissue goes into contracture and the muscle cell (sarcomere) becomes compacted or locked up we feel it as a “knot” or Trigger Point. This leads to a shortening of the muscle length, build up of waste products and ultimately inflammation. All of this tension and pressure is felt as pain.
How do we relieve the pain? Get fresh blood to the contracted muscle tissue, it lets out a twitch and becomes functional again.
Massage vs Acupuncture
Massage brings blood flow by creating micro traumas in your muscles and so is an excellent way of releasing trigger points by breaking up areas that have become stagnant .
But when the knot is deep down underneath the other muscles massage reaches its limits. You could get in the area with an elbow, knee or thumb but this is going to create lots of micro traumas or bruising.
Or you could insert a needle into the area, create a microscopic pathway and awaken the muscle tissue with minimal force and sensation using a needle.
Does acupuncture hurt?
It’s normal to feel sore in your ‘ah shi’ points after treatment. Talk with your practitioner about taking supplements, like Chinese herbs turmeric and arnica to help reduce swelling and possibly bruising after dry needling therapy. Also heat and ointments like tiger balm can be very helpful.
How often should I get acupuncture?
Also, your practitioner will likely recommend not returning for a repeat treatment in the same location within 72 hours to give your tissues enough time to heal. Despite some lingering soreness, you’ll likely be able to drive home or return to work right after your dry needling session. For optimal results, you should participate in a treatment plan that is about 2-4 treatments and not wait longer than 1 week between visits otherwise you may regress too much.