Dry Needling
What is Dry Needling?
Dry Needling involves using sterile acupuncture needles to trigger specific effects in a particular muscle area. The term "Dry" Needling refers to the fact that the needle itself is used to achieve the effect. It is distinguished from "Wet Needling," where local anesthetics are injected into the muscle through a needle.
Where is Dry Needling used?
Dry Needling is highly effective when targeting a hypersensitive muscle area. This specific muscle area is often near a so-called "Trigger Zone," an area where multiple myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are closely situated.
A myofascial trigger point (MTrP) is clinically defined as a hypersensitive area in the skeletal muscle that responds to mechanical stimulation. This mechanical stimulation can be caused, for example, by tension and pressure in everyday movements, leading to the provocation of pain. An MTrP itself is microscopic, but when multiple MTrPs occur in an area, they can be palpated.
MTrPs can develop in various ways, including acute overuse, direct traumas, prolonged muscle contractions (e.g., due to poor posture), prolonged immobility, medication-induced, or stress-related. Once an MTrP is formed, it can persist and cause local or referred pain.
What are the effects of Dry Needling?
Dry Needling aims to stimulate specific effects within the Trigger Zone using the needle, which should lead to long-term muscle relaxation. The effects of Dry Needling are diverse and include actions on biochemical, microvascular, pain-modulating, neurological, and tissue-changing levels, among others.
How does a Dry Needling therapy session proceed?
To ensure the safe implementation of Dry Needling, risks must be assessed, and safety measures must be taken. Therefore, it is advisable to seek treatment from experienced Dry Needling therapists only. We are certified members of the Dry Needling Association Switzerland and provide a safe treatment.
A Dry Needling therapy session typically follows a clear procedure. Once the aforementioned risk factors have been assessed, and you, as the patient, have given your consent for the therapy, you will be positioned in an appropriate starting position (lying on your back, side, etc.). After locating the trigger point and the therapist has assessed possible risk factors, the skin is disinfected. Following a certain exposure time, the Dry Needling needle is inserted into the tissue, and the muscle is systematically searched for MTrPs. Only one Dry Needling needle should be used at a time.
We understand that this description of Dry Needling may create the impression that it is a risky or complicated treatment. However, rest assured that with a well-trained therapist, Dry Needling can be a safe and effective complement to other treatment methods, providing you with rapid therapeutic results.