DRY-NEEDLING

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a manual pain management technique where sterile  acupuncture needles are inserted directly into myofascial (muscular) trigger  points to relieve pain. Trigger points are composed of tightly contracted  knots within the muscle that cause pain within the body. Trigger points are  located by palpating the muscle, then needles are inserted into the center  of each trigger point. Research studies have shown that inserting such  needles into trigger points causes biochemical changes within the body,  which relax the contracted muscle and help reduce pain. 

Who can benefit from Dry Needling? 

Trigger points occur in dogs with either acute or chronic muscle overload.  Dogs with orthopedic or neurologic injuries that change their posture, as  well as canine athletes training for competition, can develop muscle pain  that is relieved by dry needling. 

How often should it be done?

Frequency of treatment depends on the condition being treated and how  long the condition has been present. Typically there is a noticeable  improvement by the second treatment, and two treatments may be enough  for some patients. Others, with more chronic conditions, will benefit from  continued weekly treatments. As the condition improves, the frequency of  treatment can be decreased. 

Are there any side effects?

There is often some muscle soreness, and occasionally bruising at the  needle insertion site. The soreness is mild, and usually resolves within 24  hours. Canine athletes should not undergo dry needling immediately  before competition.