Getting the Needle

Physiotherapy Dry Needling Treatment for Musculoskeletal Pain

As a physiotherapist, I often encounter patients who suffer from chronic muscle pain due to overuse, such as athletes or individuals with physically demanding jobs. Take, for instance, a patient of mine who was struggling with persistent knee pain from repetitive strain. Our traditional soft tissue release techniques, while effective, are sometimes painful for the patient to endure.

This is where dry needling came in. It is a less painful yet highly effective alternative that provides quick relief by targeting the specific trigger points causing the discomfort.

Dry Needling is a therapeutic technique now widely practised by a range of healthcare professionals, including medical doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, veterinarians, and others who have undergone specific training. The discovery and development of dry needling as a distinct practice in Western medicine occurred much later than Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture, but it has rapidly gained traction due to its effectiveness in treating various musculoskeletal conditions.

ORIGINS OF DRY NEEDLING

The origins of dry needling can be traced back to the use of injections of anaesthetic to treat painful musculoskeletal conditions. As early as the 1930s, practitioners began injecting irritated points in the muscles to alleviate pain. However, a significant turning point in the development of dry needling came in 1941 when a groundbreaking paper was published in the US. The research claimed that pain could be relieved by simple needling without the injection of any substance, which laid the foundation for the technique we know today.