Acupuncture is increasingly used in Physiotherapy & Osteopathy to promote recovery and enhance treatment outcomes. However, be aware that two types of acupuncture are commonly used within clinical practice today: 'TCM and Dry Needling'.
TCM stands for Traditional Chinese Medicine. This type of Acupuncture is frequently used as a stand-alone technique.
Dry needling is sometimes called IMS, Trigger Point needling or even Anatomical Acupuncture.
Theoretically, philosophically and conceptually, they are different, with their single commonality being the use of a filiform stainless steel needle. Both forms of acupuncture are believed to promote the reduction of pain and inflammation and balance the body's healing flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi — through pathways in your body called meridians.
TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
TCM acupuncture is based on centuries-old treatments passed down from one Master to the next, but it is, by this very nature, prescriptive in its application. TCM Needle placement is based on traditional diagnostic assessment findings. The central philosophy of this approach is the concept that the balance of 'Yin and Yang' exists as inseparable and contradictory opposites, and the reestablishment of balance is the answer to natural pain relief and healing.
Whilst TCM can be used as a combination treatment approach alongside other forms of intervention such as electrotherapy, exercises, rehabilitation and hands-on treatment, it rarely does. This type of treatment approach is more frequently practised using dry needling where combination approaches are indicated.
This needling method doesn't try to confer injury-specific condition influence; rather, it assumes a more pragmatic, scientifically reproducible influence on the musculoskeletal (MSK) system itself and the symptoms resulting from the underlying condition.
Muscle spasm is often the result and most often the source of most of our pain when injured. Muscles that sympathetically go into protective spasm can be released with the skilful identification of active trigger points and dry needling placement. This can make a profound difference in the level of pain and incapacity experienced. It works simply by inducing a reduction of tonal tension within the reactive spasmed muscles.
This is one of the most reliable and reproducible impacts of acupuncture on the human body and is frequently overlooked by research for more exotic influences, such as the stimulation of physiological pain relieving mediators in the circulation and nervous system.
This resultant reduction of muscle spasms facilitates the combined treatment efficacy, which frequently offers immediate and substantial pain relief and is the main reason this approach is gaining clinical popularity.
Dry needling (IMS)
Dry needling is a specialised technique our skilled therapists use to target and treat various musculoskeletal conditions. Unlike acupuncture, which is rooted in ancient Chinese medicine, dry needling addresses direct myofascial dysfunctions.
Dry Needling, also called IMS, aims to:
Relieve Pain: Dry needling reduces acute and chronic pain by releasing muscle tension and promoting relaxation.
Improve Range of Motion: Enhance joint mobility and flexibility, enabling you to move more freely and comfortably.
Enhance Blood Flow: Stimulate localised blood flow, aiding the body's natural healing processes.
Activate Muscles: Strengthen weak or inhibited muscles, which is crucial for rehabilitation after injuries or surgeries.
Complement Treatment: Combine dry needling with other physical therapy techniques, such as manual therapy and exercise, to achieve holistic healing and recovery.
How Does Dry Needling Work?
Dry Needling uses acupuncture needles to treat neuropathic pain by desensitising affected nerves and muscles.
Needles are inserted into specific trigger points to activate a reflex arc or twitch response from the muscle, which releases unwanted tension and pain.
Inserting the needle also creates a minor therapeutic injury to the area, increasing blood flow to stimulate healing.
What To Expect During a Dry Needling Appointment
During a dry needling treatment, one or more thin, monofilament needles are inserted into a muscle trigger point. A trigger point is a local band of tight, irritable and dysfunctional muscle tissue. This often emerges because of injury, overuse or poor movement patterns.
Trigger points can disrupt your muscle function, restrict your range of motion or cause pain and tenderness. Physical therapists or licensed acupuncturists perform an in-depth evaluation to determine if dry needling is appropriate. Then they discuss your symptoms while assessing mobility and muscle function to determine if trigger points are contributing to symptoms.
When dry needling is applied to an affected muscle or trigger point, it can decrease muscle tightness, increase blood flow and reduce pain. Patients often report immediate relief after treatment. The needles remain in your muscles for a short period of time — between 10 seconds and 20 minutes — during treatment. This depends on the treatment location, number of needles used and treatment goals.
Dry needling is usually paired with exercise and other physical therapy techniques to prevent trigger points from reoccurring.
The needles used are solid and don't inject liquid into your body. It's the reason this treatment is referred to as "dry." All forms of acupuncture use dry needles as well.
Dry needling is a safe technique for treating many musculoskeletal conditions, including shoulder pain, rotator cuff pain, biceps tendinitis, iliotibial band syndrome, Achilles tendinitis, low back pain, tennis elbow, whiplash or neck pain, headaches, muscle strains, hip pain and temporomandibular pain, also called TMJ.
Dry needling is performed by physical therapists and licensed acupuncturists trained in the procedure. Most people report minor or no discomfort during treatment.
Acupuncture at Phyio Direct
Our therapists, qualified as acupuncturists, have the flexibility to do both Dry Needling and TCM. We will discuss with you which approach is most likely to work best. We only allow qualified staff recognised by the 'Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists' or equivalent scope of practice qualifications.