Searching for a way to relieve muscle pain can bring you to many new therapeutic disciplines but it’s not always clear what these techniques can do for you. In many cultures and traditions, massages, ointments, and in this case, needles have been effective measures of curing physical aches and pains. However, the thought of having needles inserted into the body can be scary and you have every right to feel this way.
That’s why we’re going to look at two very common disciplines that use needles to relieve muscle woes such as tightness, knotting, and so on. The two disciplines in question are Dry Needling and Acupuncture that are from western and eastern medicine respectively.
Dry Needling
Dry Needling is a relatively new method but it is based on decades of scientific research. It is a treatment that is performed by Physiotherapists and Traditional Chinese Therapists who are certified to do so. The therapist identifies the area of concern and finds “muscular trigger points” need to be treated.
They then use monofilament needles to penetrate the skin and hit these trigger points or treat the areas around them. As the name implies, these monofilament needles are not covered with any substances nor do they inject anything into the muscle; simply put these needles end up decreasing muscle tightness, increasing blood flow and reducing pain in the area.
As such trigger points are localized problems that disrupt muscle function, range of motion and even cause pain. Physiotherapists and Traditional Chinese Therapists use dry needling to treat this issue but it is a part of a larger therapeutic plan to help the patient out.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture and Dry Needling both use needles or filaments to treat patients but that’s where the similarities end. Acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and is based on centuries of tradition. Acupuncture treats conditions based on blockages of “chi” or the energy flow in the body. It is used to treat muscle pain but treats many other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and so on.
This traditional medicine is preferred by many people around the world and it has been studied as pain relief treatment with limited success. Acupuncture as physical therapy is not holistic in nature and it is not conducted by physical therapists so that next level of rehab is often missing.
Dry Needling and Acupuncture with Form Physio and Rehab
Dry Needling or Acupuncture is just one part of your therapy at Form Physio because pain relief is just one aspect of healing. Our goal is to get you back to doing what you love and in the case of muscle pain and inflexibility, that means ensuring you can move freely in a pain-free manner.
Our Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapists are certified in both Acupuncture and Dry Needling so you don’t have to worry about needles causing you excessive pain or drawing blood because you’ll be in good hands. Once we do a thorough assessment and have a clear understanding of what your problem and what your goal is, we will develop a custom treatment plan which may involve Dry Needling, Acupuncture, and/or Physiotherapy so that you can get back to doing the things you love.
Are you interested in learning more about Acupuncture or Dry Needling?
Author
Thipkrita (Fair) Thitipongpreeda
Senior TCM Therapist at Form Recovery and Wellness
Khun Thipkrita is our Senior TCM Therapist at Form Recovery and Wellness. Thipkrita graduated from Mae Fah Luang University with a degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She also worked and studied TCM at Xiamen University in China before moving back to Thailand. Thipkrita is a true team player who believes in the power of our Team Based Approach to give all our clients the highest chance of success.
