Dry needling is an invasive procedure whereby  acupuncture needles are inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. A myofascial trigger point (sometimes known as a knot) consists of multiple tight muscle fibers which are related to the production of pain and muscle spasms. Dry needling should not be confused with acupuncture as dry needling focuses on the western anatomical and neurophysiological principles where as acupuncture focuses on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) techniques.

Conditions which respond to dry needling include; but are not limited to:

• Headaches
• Buttock pain
• Leg pain
• Hamstring strains
• Shin splints
• Muscle spasms
• Frozen shoulder
• Fibromyalgia
• Sciatic Pain
• Hip and knee pain
• Elbow and wrist pain
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

Generally, the needle may not be felt when inserted into the skin. However, due to the local twitch response, it may provoke a very brief response to pain which has been described as an electric shock or a cramping sensation. During treatment, patients commonly experience heaviness in the limbs or a pleasant feeling or sense of relaxation.After the treatment, patients are advised to stretch the muscle for a period of 3 sets of 20second holds. They may report  soreness over the treated area and referral zone lasting up to a few hours but not more than 2 days.