Dry Needling

  On Tuesday, I was shadowing Rich, one of the clinic directors and physical therapists, and observed him using technique called "dry needling" on a patient.  Dry needling may appear to be similar to acupuncture, but the techniques are actually very different. Acupuncture inserts needles along a meridian, bases on a "flow of energy" through one's body.  What most people call a "knot" in someones back, to physical therapists is known as a "myofascial trigger point." This consists of a tight  band of muscles that is contracted. In dry needling, a very small needle is inserted directly into this trigger point. The technique is called "dry" because no substance is injected through the needle. As the needle is inserted, the muscle with the trigger point will twitch. This is known as the localized twitch response. Healthy muscles will not twitch.  It is believed that the needle will release a build up of neurotransmitters.. The buildup of these chemicals, such as acetylcholine, norepinephrine, substance P, and bradykinin can cause the muscles to be painful to the touch.  The trapezius is a common muscle to contain trigger points, and that was where Rich was working with the patient yesterday.  There was no blood, no screaming, nothing out of the ordinary.  The needle is tiny, and the patient barely felt anything except for the twitch and when he inserted the needle deeper. After inserting the needle into several different locations along the trapezius and lower in the arm, Rich was able to stretch her back farther than he was previously able to.  This technique displayed instant relief, and took only a matter of minutes. There was a lot less work for Rich since he didn't need to physically manipulate and massage out the knot. One insertion, and it was fixed.
  One of the PT's, Erin, took a look at my ankle today, and she says that I could use the dry needling on my peroneus longus, so Rich says he will do that tomorrow. Cool!  Hope it works!  Erin found all sorts of other things wrong with my foot and the biomechanics of how I walk and how my back is shaped. Looks like I'll be coming in for a few more treatments while I'm here.  Might as well, right?

Total hours: 20

12/13: 6
12/14: 7
12/15: 7