Dry needling, also known as myofascial trigger point dry needling it is an alternative medicine technique similar to acupuncture. Dry needling is sometimes also known as intramuscular stimulation. It involves the use of either solid filiform needles or hollow-core hypodermic needles for therapy of muscle pain, including pain related to myofascial pain syndrome. Dry needling is mainly used to “treat” myofascial “trigger points”, but it is also used to “target” connective tissue, neural ailments, and muscular ailments. It enables practitioners not only to defuse pain, but to help heal many neuromuscular skeletal conditions.
Dry needling is a neurophysiological evidence-based treatment technique that requires effective manual assessment of the neuromuscular system. Chiropractors are well trained to utilize dry needling in conjunction with manual therapy interventions. Research supports that dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension, normalizes biochemical and electrical dysfunction of motor end plates, and facilitates an accelerated return to active rehabilitation.