Dry needling is a type of meditation in which small needles stimulate particular spots on the body. It is a successful treatment for chronic pain and physical therapy, increasing muscle function and decreasing inflammation.
The technique is still relatively new in Western nations, but it is gaining traction globally. However, there are pros and cons of dry needling that you should know beforehand.
Table of contents
Pros And Cons Of Dry Needling
Pros Of Dry Needling
Dry needling has some amazing advantages for patients. You can see them here.
Dry Needling Can Help Relieve Pain
Dry needling might be the answer to your persistent pain, such as back or foot discomfort. It might help enhance an athlete’s posture and reduce trigger points in damaged muscles—all without requiring surgery!
This therapy has also been demonstrated to successfully relieve joint pain caused by arthritis or other injuries, providing patients with more alternatives when deciding how best to manage their disease.
Faster recovery
Dry needling is a sort of therapy that promotes faster healing and a greater range of motion. It can help you heal faster, especially if your muscles cannot function normally due to an injury.
The increased blood flow caused by this approach permits cells in wounded tissue to obtain the nutrients they require, preventing the region from becoming necrotic (dead) or scarred due to its damaged state.
Can Be Combined With Treatments
Dry needling is a pain reduction treatment that is both safe and effective. It may be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies. Electrical stimulation may make it more potent when refractory muscles such as persistent low back pain and even knee osteoarthritis!
Precise treatment
DRY needling is an efficient way to target a specific muscle group and acupuncture points on the body. The physicians will accomplish this by magnetizing a tiny needle and inserting it into certain locations on the body to relieve pain and tension, particularly when injecting other muscles.
Stretch Receptors (Muscle Spindles) and Pressure Receptors can be triggered by dry needling (Golgi Tendon Organs), which distinguishes it from other approaches that can cover a broader region.
Helps improve posture
Sitting in the wrong posture when working not only affects the aesthetics but also seriously affects your health. It distorted the bone structure in the body, causing bones to be curled and causing a hunchback.
Besides, sitting in the wrong posture places a large focus on the abdomen, causing the abdominal and back muscles to be stretched and unbalanced.
Dry Needling comes in and adjusts, helping the muscles relax and reduce the pressure on the spine. Patients may feel significant improvement in their posture when applying this method.
Cons Of Dry Needling
Although dry needling has a lot of reputation for its effectiveness, there aren’t actually any scientific proofs to support this method.
Potentially Painful
After your sessions, the area being treated can feel sore for up to one week. This fact is especially true if you have trigger points in more than one muscle group!
Not Available To Everyone
One significant disadvantage of dry needling is that it cannot be done whenever the mood strikes. You must be suffering from an injury for which this therapy might be beneficial.
Expensive
Dry needling is a viable therapeutic option; however, it is not covered by health insurance. It will set you back roughly $1200. If you wish to attempt this form of muscle treatment, be sure the practitioner has expertise because what works for one person may not work for another.
Allergic Reaction
Some patients may be allergic to the material of needles, such as titanium which is used for dry needling. This allergy could cause a rash, itching, and redness around the area where needles are inserted if you have an allergy to them.
If this occurs after treatment, your doctor should stop performing it on you immediately since there is a risk that continuing with these treatments will worsen your condition or even result in death due to anaphylactic shock from allergies.
Finding A Quality Dry Needling Professional
Patients who have particular allergies should always notify their doctor before beginning Therapy. If you are allergic to any of the components used in dry needling, you should avoid doing it. Your doctor should use them with caution since they might cause discomfort and, in the worst-case scenario, anaphylactic shock from a response!
Not 100% Effective
Dry needling is often less effective than other injection techniques. It also takes longer to see improvement in outcome for this technique – sometimes months or even years!
FAQs
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
No.
Acupuncture and dry needling are both medical treatments that employ Traditional Chinese Medicine principles. Acupuncture involves the insertion of small needles into particular places on your body known as meridians to unblock energy flow (chi) or restore balance in natural healing processes.
Does dry needling have long-term effects?
According to one idea, the twitch response can relieve muscular tension and help with pain management. Several studies have demonstrated this to be true for short-term results, but the long-term impacts are uncertain.
What should you not do after dry needling?
There are some recommendations on what to do after dry needling
1. Do not apply cold temperatures to sore areas or lightly bruised areas
2. Work, work gently
3. Stay away from alcohol, stimulants
4. Always learn about the capabilities of the practitioner through certificates and degrees
Conclusion
It is important to know the pros and cons of dry needling if you want a better result. Dry needling can be beneficial for treating chronic pain, but it also has some side effects that you should be aware of before starting treatment. Overall, it is still worth trying!
We hope you have found this article helpful in your decision-making process! Thank you for taking your time.
