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Dry needling has become an increasingly popular procedure to treat conditions correlated with a limited range of motion and moderate to severe pain. The technique involves the insertion of thin and fine (filiform) stainless steel needles into specific points in the body to promote healing and relieve pain.
Based on this description, we can understand that some may feel intimidated by the procedure. However, rest assured that dry needling is minimally invasive and generally well-tolerated by patients, especially when carried out by our experienced therapists. In fact, there are various health benefits to the procedure. Read on to learn more.
Learn More: Dry Needling Therapy: What You Should Know
What you should know about dry needling
Dry needling is a form of myofascial trigger-point therapy conducted in a safe environment under the care of our therapists. We will only prescribe this treatment if necessary to manage the symptoms of specific conditions and increase your range of motion. Let us share the common medical conditions which dry needling is an effective treatment for:
1. TMJ disorder
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is a condition that affects the joint that connects your jawbone to the skull. So if you experience pain in the face, jaw, and neck, as well as difficulty chewing and speaking, you might have TMJ disorder.
Our therapists can recommend dry needling as a form of TMJ treatment to help alleviate the symptoms of TMJ disorder. The aim is to release tension in the muscles surrounding the joint. By targeting the trigger points with the needles, our therapists can help reduce muscle spasms and improve the range of motion in your jaw.
2. Migraine headaches
Migraine headaches can cause intense pain and even nausea, which can impact your day-to-day activities. So if you experience headaches regularly, we recommend visiting our migraine specialists at Orchard Health Clinic.
After assessing your condition, our specialists may recommend dry needling to help increase blood flow to the affected areas, thus reducing inflammation and offering pain relief. The treatment can also promote the release of endorphins, which act as natural painkillers produced by the body to relieve the symptoms of your migraines.
3. Joint problems
As you age, your joints may start to weaken, leading to conditions such as arthritis. Additionally, your tendons become less flexible and more prone to injury, increasing your risk of developing tendonitis. These conditions may limit your movements and affect your lifestyle and day-to-day activities.
Our therapists can help treat these joint problems by using dry needling to target the trigger points around the affected joint. Doing so helps reduce inflammation and promote healing in the affected areas. Subsequently, you may notice an improvement in your range of motion and reduced pain in your joints.
4. Disk and back problems
Low back pain is a common condition that affects up to 80% of Singapore’s adult population. These issues can cause pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. Fortunately, our therapists can recommend dry needling as an effective treatment option for these conditions. Our therapists will target the trigger points in the muscles surrounding your back to release tension in these muscles, thus relieving pain and improving your range of motion.
5. Muscle weakness
Dry needling can also be used to help address muscle weakness caused by injury or chronic conditions. By targeting the trigger points in your weakened muscles, our therapists can help promote healing in the affected area and improve muscle function and strength.
Health benefits of dry needling therapy
In addition to its ability to treat specific conditions, dry needling offers a range of health benefits.
Benefit #1: Offers fast pain relief for most conditions
Dry needling involves the insertion of thin and fine (filiform) stainless steel needles into specific points in your body to target your trigger points. This action relaxes your muscles and boosts blood flow to the affected area, thus reducing inflammation and promoting healing.
Of course, the treatment result depends on the patient and the severity of their injuries. Many of our patients experience an immediate reduction in pain levels after our dry needling sessions. However, some may require several more sessions to achieve optimum pain relief.
Benefit #2: Helps you regain your range of motion
Tight, painful muscles can inhibit your movement, making it difficult for you to go about your daily activities. Furthermore, when you are less active, your muscles weaken and lose mass. Dry needling can help release muscle tension, thus improving your range of motion and flexibility.
Benefit #3: Accelerates your recovery process
After an injury or surgery, moving your body is the best way to accelerate the recovery process and promote healing. Depending on your condition, our therapists may recommend dry needling in addition to physical therapy to speed up your recovery.
Benefit #4: Manage your chronic pain conditions
Just because you have chronic pain conditions does not mean you have to live with the pain. Dry needling can help you manage and ease the symptoms of chronic pain conditions like myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia.
Rest assured that dry needling therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for various conditions. Provided the procedure is carried out by experienced and knowledgeable practitioners like our therapists at Orchard Health Clinic. If you are interested to know more about dry needling and whether it is a suitable treatment for your condition, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with us today!
