The benefits of dry needling for lower back pain

During a dry needling session, needles (the same type of needle commonly used in acupuncture) are inserted into a trigger point.

The trigger point must be “deactivated”. Each of us has trigger points, but only when activated do they manifest symptoms. Your range of motion and functional ability will improve when the trigger point is deactivated, and your pain will decrease. While it’s not entirely clear how, researchers believe the therapy increases blood flow to the trigger point to decrease muscle contraction. Dry needling is thought to help suppress pain signals.

While practitioners have used this technique for a number of other conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and cervicogenic headaches, it is best known for reducing trigger point pain in the spine. Physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, nurses and medical professionals all use dry needling.

More than 80% of people suffer from low back pain at some point

And there are countless possible causes. We know that there is much more to it than just anatomy and that it can be challenging to treat because it is so complicated and difficult to understand. Finding methods to help manage your pain may take some trial and error if you have persistent lower back pain. Different things can work for different people and there is no magic solution.

Many people confuse dry needling with acupuncture because it also uses needles to provoke a response, but the two techniques are different. Acupuncture works to clear energy blockages and move Qi through the body systems (i.e. nervous system, circulatory system, muscles, etc.). Since dry needling focuses more on the targeted treatment of nerve and muscle pain, it does not adhere to the traditional theory of acupuncture.

Patients with chronic back pain can experiment with a variety of treatments, including alternative medical practices. A back massage can help, but dry needling is often even better. The most popular options are manual therapies, which also include physical therapy, chiropractic, and osteopathy. In physical therapy, a procedure known as dry needling is becoming increasingly popular for treating conditions that affect other parts of the body in addition to back pain.

Muscles can have areas called trigger points that hurt when squeezed or irritated. The optimal approach to identifying trigger points is debatable, although it can depend greatly on the therapist’s knowledge and training.

Painful trigger points that are active are also there when no pressure is applied (spontaneous pain). When pressure is applied, latent trigger points produce pain. Satellite trigger points develop in the precise area of ​​referred pain emanating from active trigger points.

It reduces muscle tension and pain

Dry needling targets trigger points, making it an efficient method of reducing pain in specific body parts. For example, if the therapist discovers trigger points in your neck or shoulder, he will inject needles there. The pressure, chemicals, tension and inflammation in the muscles that are the source of the pain are released by the needles. An improved range of motion and rapid pain relief are the result.

It also helps increase range of motion from an injury. Fluidity and a full range of motion are essential to success if you’re a constantly moving athlete. Let’s take the lower back as an example. To prevent ongoing discomfort in your back or another injury, dry needling can help reduce this pain and improve the overall function of your shoulder.

It speeds up recovery

The rehabilitation period is always the toughest and most time-consuming aspect of an accident. While some injuries take longer to recover from than others, we all want to get back to full strength. In studies, patients have reported greater range of motion and faster pain relief with dry needling. One of the main benefits of dry needling therapy is that it has the ability to heal injuries faster than other types of treatment.

Source: physiotherapie4all.nl