ACUPUNTURE - DRY NEEDLING
Acupuncture has been used as a key component of Chinese and Japanese traditional medicine for centuries, and embraced by Western Scientific medicine.
By applying modern scientific process to these traditional techniques, and by utilising our ever improving knowledge of anatomy and neurophysiology; dry needling techniques have been formulated which can be extremely beneficial in the treatment of a multitude of injuries.
Dry Needling is a valuable treatment technique that is becoming increasingly utilised by physiotherapists and sports doctors across Australia and throughout the world.
At Empower Physiotherapy, Dry Needling is used in conjunction with other forms of “hands on” manual therapy such as mobilisation and massage; with education and advice; as well as exercise prescription and stretches to form a complete rehabilitation program. After carrying out a thorough assessment of your condition, your physiotherapist will let you know if (s)he thinks Dry Needling will be of benefit in your case.
Dry Needling aims to treat pain and movement dysfunction through the application of very fine needles through the skin, and each treatment of this type is accompanied on each occasion by a thorough biomechanical assessment and extensive soft tissue palpation.
The Dry Needling techniques used at Empower Physiotherapy are a fusion of traditional Chinese and Japanese techniques combined with Western Scientific Acupuncture. For the most part, the techniques utilised do not focus on the needling of myofascial trigger points, which is where a lot of Western Scientific Acupuncture has been targeted in recent years. This means that the needling itself is much more comfortable for the patient at the time of treatment, and because there is little need for deep needling, post treatment soreness is minimal.
At Empower Physiotherapy, we are extremely keen for patients to be educated about their treatment, and to have a stake in how their conditions are managed. If your physiotherapist suggests utilising Dry Needling as a component of your management plan, and you would rather take a different approach, simply let us know. Similarly, if you feel your injuries could benefit from Dry Needling, speak to your physiotherapist, and if appropriate we will incorporate this into your management plan.
