Natural Therapies

 What is Myofascial Dry Needling?

Myofascial  Dry Needling uses fine filament needles , the same that is used in acupuncture. Dry needling can be considered as a western form of acupuncture using "anatomical points” rather than  the traditional Chinese acupuncture background that typically focuses on the pre mapped meridian points and energy channels that influence different organs, functions and systems in the body.

Needles are inserted into points in the “muscles” known as trigger points.  Muscles develop trigger points usually from over worked muscles, overuse injuries, chronic pain or sports injuries. The muscles often become shortened and can create compression on the structures around them causing pain.

How does it work?

These fine acupuncture needles are inserted into the trigger points, the needle stimulates the trigger points to fatigue, desensitising or deactivating them, breaking up the knots, increasing blood flow, reducing pain, promoting healing, and it can also stimulate endorphins.

The aim of dry needling is to achieve a local twitch response to release muscle tension and pain. When this happens there is a quick tightening  of the muscle can be often be felt. A twitch response is an involuntary spinal cord reflex in which the muscle fibres in a taut band of muscle contract followed by an immediate and long lasting relaxation.

Does it hurt?

If your muscle is healthy, the insertion of the needle is painless. If the muscle is supersensitive and shorted you may feel the “quick tightening” or sensation and that can radiate like a dull ache or a muscle cramp after insertion. The reason being that the muscle is grasping the needle.

Clients  soon learn to recognise the sensation and often call it positive pain as the  feeling of relaxation and relief quickly follows.

Is Dry Needling Safe?

Anna McDonagh holds a Certificate of Myofascial Dry Needling from the Chi –Chinese  Healing College, Sydney which is recognised by Australian Natural Therapists Association Reg 10298

Myofascial Dry Needling is growing steadily more popular as more and more people become aware of the technique.

Pregnant woman in their first trimester are not recommended to have Dry Needling treatments due to the nature of their bodies being more sensitive.

The client is under no obligation to agree to dry needling, it is the client's  choice.

There is no additional cost to dry needling as it  is part of the Remedial Massage

 Conditions Treated

Back Pain

Joint Pain

Arm & Leg Pain

Sprains & Strains

Muscle Imbalances

Acute or Chronic Trigger Point Pain

Headache

Osteoarthritis