You might be tempted to think that dry needling is just a different name for acupuncture, but in fact, the two practices are very different! To look at photos of dry needling and acupuncture, it’s easy to understand why so many people confuse the two.
Both acupuncture and dry needling involve the insertion of fine needles into the skin, but the similarities pretty well end there. Acupuncture is an ancient practice meant to resolve pain and other health issues by opening up one’s chakras. Dry needling is a modern medical practice aimed at relieving pain through activating trigger points.
A Brief History of Dry Needling
Dry needling using trigger points was introduced by a Czech physician, Karel Lewit, in 1979. Through the practice of injecting analgesics into pain points, Dr. Lewit realized that simply inserting a needle into the trigger point was enough to help reduce pain, regardless of the analgesic used. With that realization, Lewit began practicing dry needling as an effective form of pain relief.
Dry needling today
Today, experienced practitioners like doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists treat pain with dry needling by inserting fine filament needles into myofascial trigger points. A myofascial trigger point consists of multiple, hyperirritable contraction knots related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle; essentially, myofascial trigger points will generate a lot of local pain upon stimulation or irritation.
Dry needling works by creating a “local twitch response” in the myofascial trigger point, ligament, or tendon, which deactivates the trigger point. In other words, you feel relief! In addition to deactivating the myofascial trigger points, dry needling also increases blood flow which stimulates a healing response in injured or painful areas.
Dry needling is practiced at Stark Chiropractic and Sports in North Houston in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments, cupping therapy, kinesiology taping, Graston technique, and dynamic taping. We believe in promoting good health through preventive therapies and promoting the body’s natural healing responses.
Schedule your appointment with Dr. Stark today using our easy online scheduler here.
See a Sports Chiropractor In North Houston
Visiting a Sports Chiropractor instead of a traditional chiropractor is a great idea for athletes and beginners alike. Sports chiropractic is specifically aimed at the treatment and prevention of injuries in sports. If you’re just starting a workout plan after a long period of inactivity, schedule a consultation with Dr. Stark for an evaluation and guidance so you can work out with confidence and direction.
Dr. Stark is a Sports Chiropractor and a certified EMT in North Houston.
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