Not Acupuncture, But a Safe Tool of Modern Western Medicine That is Supported by Research

Dry needling is different from acupuncture and is based on the Western neuroanatomy and modern scientific study of the musculoskeletal system. Practitioners insert a thin filament needle into trigger points. Trigger points arise when a muscle is in dysfunction and can contribute to chronic pain and altered function. Research has shown that trigger points have excessive electrical activity that indicates increased tension. After needling, the electrical activity in the muscle often decreases and the muscle feels more relaxed.

Usually a healthy muscle feels very little discomfort when the needle is inserted; however, if the muscle is sensitive and shortened or has active trigger points within it, the patient may feel a sensation much like a muscle cramp – this is the “twitch” response. Typically, we see positive results within two to four treatment sessions, and that can vary depending on the cause and duration of the symptoms. One of our former patients recently told us, “My muscles were sore for two days, and then I never felt my shoulder pain again.”