Introduction to dry needling introduction Myofascial pain is a common cause of acute and chronic pain.
to dry needling introduction Myofascial pain is a common cause of acute and chronic pain. The term “myofascial pain” encompasses many different painful conditions and can exist independently of other pain generators, known as primary myofascial pain. Myofascial pain is most effectively treated with a multimodal treatment plan including injection therapy (known as trigger point injections [TPIs or TrPs]), physical therapy, postural or ergonomic correction, and treatment of underlying musculoskeletal pain generators.
Different therapeutic approaches are advocated for the management of TrPs, with needling interventions being the most commonly used. A myofascial trigger point is defined as a hyperirritable spot in skeletal muscle that is associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band. The spot is tender when pressed and can give rise to characteristic referred pain, motor dysfunction, and autonomic phenomena.
There are two needling procedures used for the management of TrPs: wet and dry needling. Wet needling (also called TrP injections) refers to procedures that include the injection of a substance (usually a local anesthetic) into a TrP through a hypodermic beveled-cutting-edge needle, whereas dry needling is defined as a “skilled intervention using a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin that stimulates myofascial TrPs, muscles, and connective tissue for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain disorders.” The credit for getting on the right track with myofascial pain and its current description is usually given to John Kellgren. In the late 1930s, Kellgren was working in University College Hospital in London under the supervision of Sir Thomas Lewis.
Lewis had experimentally determined that injecting a saline solution into muscular tissue could lead to pain being experienced some distance from the site of the injection. Lewis encouraged Kellgren to explore this phenomenon and both researchers published their findings in consecutive articles in the British Medical Journal in February 1938. In the United States, Arthur Steindler was perhaps the first to use the term ‘‘trigger points’’.
He reported that many cases of sciatica seem to involve referral from musculo/tendinous/ ligamentous structures rather than from irritation of the sciatic nerve. His use of the term ‘‘trigger point’’ was not confined to myofascial trigger points. In 1942, Janet Travell and colleagues published the first paper in what would turn out to be a lifelong contribution to the subject.
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to introduction to dry needling, it is important to see a sports medicine physician. Early evaluation and treatment typically lead to better outcomes. Do not ignore pain or symptoms that are limiting your activity.
*This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.*
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