Chronic pain syndromes and motor dysfunction are among the top medical complaints of adults in the 21st Century. Excessive sitting, sedentary lifestyles, chronic stress and obesity are all contributing factors. For physically active adults, overuse during sports and exercise can result in reduced performance and increased injury risk.
Sadly, most approaches to treating chronic pain yield less-than-satisfactory results. Prescription pain medications are fueling an out-of-control opioid crisis, and over-the-counter alternatives do little to alleviate pain. Moreover, medications only treat pain symptoms, without getting at their source.
Surgery is another approach that often falls short of getting to the root cause of chronic pain. Considering its invasive nature, low rate of success and astronomical cost, surgery is simply not an option for many sufferers of pain and dysfunction.
Dry Needling is a treatment approach that has hovered in the shadows of alternative medicine for decades. Its genesis dates back to 1979, when it was introduced by Czech doctor Karel Lewit for myofascial pain relief. The technique was further explored by Travell and Simons in the 1990s, and research on the use of trigger point dry needling under ultrasound guidance was published by Bubnov in 2010.
In recent years, Dry Needling has been getting a closer look as an inexpensive and minimally invasive alternative therapy for resolving pain and motor dysfunction. Dry needling is distinct from injection therapies that use drugs, irritants or other substances to elicit a curative response. When used in conjunction with guided imaging, Dry Needling accurately targets trigger points to provide pain relief and restore motor function.
Following are 10 little-known facts about Dry Needling that shed light on its mechanisms and efficacy:
Ultrasound guided dry needling has proven safe and effective across populations, including children and elderly patients, with few complications. However, caution should be taken to ensure the practitioner is well-qualified. The procedure poses greater risks to vessels, pleura and neural structures when performed in deep structures without imaging guidance.
Dry Needling is considered a monotherapy, meaning it is used independently of other treatments. As such, its efficacy cannot be challenged when treatment outcomes result in pain relief and restored function.
During the procedure, some patients report soreness and discomfort from the local muscle twitch response. This can be interpreted as a very positive and expected phenomena, indicating that the procedure has hit its mark. The level of pain and discomfort can vary, depending on the technique and skill of the individual practitioner.
Patients should beware of sham practitioners who lack the skills or qualifications to effectively perform Dry Needling. The practitioner should be a trained ultrasound specialist with a successful track record for positive outcomes.
Resource:
Bubnov, R.V., et al. Personalized monotherapy vs protocol therapy complex for frozen shoulder. Comparative study. EPMA J 2014, 5 (Suppl 1): A163. https://doi.org/10.1186/1878-5085-5-S1-A163
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