Foot Pain Diagnosis & Treatment
Not to be confused with acupuncture, dry needling is a proven clinical method for treating injury involving the use of ‘dry’ needles to relieve chronic pain and treat injuries. Called ‘dry’ needles as they contain no medication or solutions, they are instead inserted directly into muscles to stimulate areas known as ‘myofascial trigger points’.
Dry Needling is used to treat dysfunction within the skeletal muscles and connective tissue, with the aim of improving function in the nerves that trigger muscle activity. Or, translated into English, a podiatrist may employ dry needle therapy to relieve pain and increase a range of motion in patients with myofascial or chronic pain.
Dry needle treatment is generally used in conjunction with other treatments for patients suffering from chronic pain and can help them return to a stage of active rehabilitation.
Benefits of Myofascial Dry Needling
While it may fly in the face of collective wisdom to relieve pain with empty needles, a dry needle therapy can be used as a method for controlling pain, reducing muscle tension, and helping to normalise nerve function in the nerves that trigger muscles.
By inserting a small filament needle through the skin and into trigger points in skeletal muscle, your podiatrist can elicit a twitch response that helps reduce pain in the affected area.
How Is Dry Needling Different from Acupuncture?
If you were to view acupuncture and dry needling side by side, you could be forgiven for thinking they are one and the same.
However, acupuncture relies on the acupressure points as described in Chinese medicine, where dry needle therapy employs the neuroanatomy of western clinical knowledge to identify myofascial trigger points within the body’s nervous system.
It is these trigger points when targeted, that can help reduce pain and increase the range of motion.
Why Choose Dry Needling from PridePlus Podiatry?
At PridePlus, our podiatrists are highly trained professionals with a comprehensive knowledge of foot and lower leg anatomy.
We are uniquely qualified to identify the trigger points causing pain and apply dry needle therapy to restore function to that muscle. We use dry needling in conjunction with stretching and strengthening protocols to give you the quickest positive outcome.
While the descriptions sound painful, the treatments are not, so get in touch with the PridePlus and book an assessment today.