What do we use it for?
Lower back pain, leg pain and weakness, paraesthesia, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, calf and hamstring pathologies, foot pain such as big toe pain and nerve conditions such as neuropathy.
What do you feel when we insert a ‘dry needle’?
You may feel a ‘De Qi’ sensation. This is dull, achy, warm, heavy, traveling, fullness sensation and even a muscle fasciculation.
What happens at the focal point of the needling at the time of insertion and electrical stimulation?
Your body has a complex reaction to the simple insertion of a dry needle. It triggers a reflex causing stimulation of particular nerve fibres, release of CGRP a body’s vasodilator, in term increasing local capillary dilation and release of powerful neuropeptides that cause a therapeutic effect on local tissues.
This chemical soup that is released aids in reducing inflammation and starts the healing process of local and surrounding tissues and increases local circulation.
This healing technique doesn’t involve any injections or the use of any medication. An acupuncture dry needle is an ultra fine, microscopically round, filiform, sterile needle. So fine, it is unlikely to cause any bleeding.
Why does it work so well for muscle spasms, sport injury and tight muscles?
Needling particular muscle areas have a profound effect in relaxing and ‘resetting’ the tight, wound up muscle bundle. When muscles are in spasm, unnecessary pressure is placed on surrounding joints and tissues. The needling releases static tension and the undue pressure disappears. This stimulates the internal healing potential of the muscle and can even heal related muscles.
Our podiatrists are both trained in this technique, and it may be offered to you if the podiatrist feels this technique will assist your concerns.
Note: This is not Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture.