Dry needling is a technique physical
therapists use (where allowed by state law) for the treatment of pain and
movement impairments. The technique uses a "dry" needle,
one without medication or injection, inserted through the skin into areas of
the muscle.
Other terms commonly used to describe dry
needling, include trigger point dry needling, and intramuscular manual therapy.
Dry needling is not acupuncture, a practice
based on traditional Chinese medicine and performed by acupuncturists. Dry
needling is a part of modern Western medicine principles and supported by
research.
A trigger point is a taut band of skeletal
muscle located within a larger muscle group. Trigger points can be tender to
the touch, and touching a trigger point may cause pain
to other parts of the body.
Dry needling involves a thin filiform needle
that penetrates the skin and stimulates underlying myofascial trigger points
and muscular and connective tissues. The needle allows a physical therapist to
target tissues that are not manually palpable.
Physical therapists wear gloves and
appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when dry needling, consistent
with Standard Precautions, Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient
Settings, and OSHA standards. The sterile needles are disposed of in a medical sharps collector.
In cases when physical therapists use dry
needling, it is typically 1 technique that's part of a larger treatment plan.
Physical therapists use dry needling to
release or inactivate trigger points to relieve pain or improve range of
motion. Preliminary research 2 supports
that dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension, and normalizes
dysfunctions of the motor end plates, the sites at which nerve impulses are
transmitted to muscles. This can help speed up the patient's return to active
rehabilitation.