There are several different ways in which the skill of dry needling is applied in practice. At Pam Kaur's Centre, the practitioner applies the needle to specific changes identified in the tissue by means of skilled palpation and logical, range based physical assessment. A full initial assessment is conducted to determine what muscles, joints, ligaments and/or nerves are causing the problem and the needle is applied to these areas. This approach demands a higher skill level of the practitioner than other approaches.
How does dry needling feel?
Not every area needled will elicit the same sensation. In some areas you might feel a slight pricking sensation when the needle first touches the skin. Generally though, the needle insertion is painless. This is because the needle construction is very fine and the tip, unlike a hypodermic needle which cuts and rips the tissue as it enters, is designed to do very little damage.
What are the benefits of dry needling?
The rewards of investing time in attaining excellent assessment skills and needle technique are:
- Equal or better effect than other manual techniques
- Lack of 'post-treatment soreness' which is normally experienced after manual therapy
- Normally minimal pain compared to other manual therapy techniques
- Normally less treatment sessions required to achieve recovery compared to manual therapy
- Relieves pain and tightness associated with muscles.
What can you treat with dry needling?
The following list provides a brief overview of some of the types of conditions that can be treated with dry needling. If you have a condition that is not listed, please contact us for more information.
- Sprained ankle (or a sprain of any other joint, including your back/neck)
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendonitis (of any tendon)
- Muscle strains
- Headaches
- Ligament injuries
- Joint pain, eg. knee, hip or back pain
- Bursitis
- Sciatica (or other neural pain)
- Overuse injuries or Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)