Dry Needling
Dry needling therapy in Nowra
That stubborn knot in your shoulder. The tightness in your hip that flares up every time you run. Dry needling is one of the most useful tools we have for releasing deep muscle tension. Most patients tell us they didn’t expect it to do as much as it did.
What It Is
What is dry needling?
Dry needling uses a very thin, sterile needle to target trigger points: tight, irritable spots in muscle that can cause pain, stiffness and referred symptoms. The “dry” bit just means nothing is injected. The needle does the work, releasing the tight fibres and encouraging blood flow into the area.
Trigger points are easy to underestimate. A tight spot in your neck can be the reason you’ve been getting headaches. Tension in your glutes can be the reason your lower back is sore. Finding and releasing them often clears up symptoms that didn’t seem connected at all.
Comfort
Does it hurt?
It’s everyone’s first question, and a fair one. The needles are very thin, nothing like an injection needle. Most patients feel a mild prick on entry, then a dull ache or twitch when the needle reaches the trigger point. That twitch is a good sign. It means the muscle is releasing. Some people barely feel anything at all.
You might be a little muscle-sore afterwards, similar to how you’d feel after a decent workout. It usually settles within a day or two.
Conditions
What can dry needling help with?
Chronic back and neck pain, tension headaches, sports injuries, muscle strains, shoulder tightness, hip problems and postural pain. It’s especially useful when muscle tension is a major part of what’s driving the symptoms, which in our experience is more often than patients expect.
Both chiropractors here have post-graduate training in dry needling. We’ll assess whether it’s appropriate for your presentation and explain what we’re doing before we start.