Dry Needling
More and more people are getting acquainted with acupuncture needles for the first time at a physiotherapist. A worrying development, but more on that later.
What is dry Needling?
The treatment with needles applied by a physiotherapist is called dry needling. Other terms are trigger point acupuncture, myofascial treatment, or intramuscular stimulation (IMS). Dry needling is used to treat painful points (thickenings) in the muscles. The needle is inserted into the pain point.
Dry Needling can be intense
With dry needling, the sensation can be very intense, often more intense than the needle sensation in 'regular' acupuncture. Sometimes it is so intense that you become sweaty or unwell. After the treatment, you often have a tight and painful feeling in the muscle that can last for one or two days.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Painful points in the muscles are called Ah-shi points in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ah-shi means, roughly translated: 'there it is, there it hurts!' Treating Ah-shi points is a technique that belongs to the domain of acupuncture and is applied by acupuncturists.
When not to apply dry needling
A well-trained acupuncturist not only looks at the pain points but also at your overall health and energy balance. This is important because sometimes dry needling is too intense and therefore not advisable, for example, if your energy level is very low. Then a gentler technique is needed, and the energy must be built up first. Because a physiotherapist is not trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine from which dry needling is derived, he cannot assess your condition in this way.
For the treatment of pain points with acupuncture needles, you are in good hands with a well-trained acupuncturist. He does this in a responsible and safe manner, with an eye for more than just the pain points.
