Dry needling and acupuncture are holistic methods for treating pain and minimizing symptoms. Considering they both use needles, it can be confusing to know which treatment you should do to alleviate your ailments.Although they look similar at first glance, dry needling, and acupuncture are rooted in different healing philosophies. So to help you determine which is the right option for your symptoms, we'll break down their differences below.
What is dry needling?
Dry needling is a form of Western medicine that aims to treat muscle pain and tension. by inserting needles into various trigger points of your body. It's aptly named as it doesn't use or inject any medication, keeping the needles dry.According to Dr. Jon Kukor of Orlando Alternative Health, the needles create micro-trauma in your muscle fibers and temporarily inflame them. This causes a twitch response before they relax, which then starts the healing process by improving your blood circulation.It also releases endorphins, which are your body's natural painkiller hormones, to allow it to handle pain better.Depending on your treatment plan, there are several dry-needling techniques a practitioner can use. A couple of examples are the in-and-out method and the non-trigger point technique. The former inserts the needles into your body and removes them immediately to shock your trigger points. While the latter technique inserts the needles around the area of your muscle pain instead of directly on it for cases when the source results from a greater muscular issue.What is acupuncture?
You might already be more familiar with acupuncture. It's a form of ancient Chinese medicine that balances your body's energy flow, called qi, to relieve pain. Once a part of this flow gets blocked, that's when you feel pain or develop illnesses in your body.To remedy them, acupuncture treatments insert thin needles at specific points of your body to open the blockage. It stimulates your nervous system and activates your endorphin production - so you feel pain relief. It also lowers inflammation and improves blood flow, resulting in a faster recovery period.Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
Dry needling and acupuncture have similar methods of treatment. But their differences lie in their philosophies, where dry needling focuses on healing musculoskeletal and neuromuscular pain. While acupuncture aims to create a balanced energy flow to promote overall health.The needle placement of each treatment is also different since, in acupuncture, they'll be positioned at your meridians or energy pathways. While dry needling targets where you experience muscle tension or the area surrounding it. It also uses fewer needles and can be accompanied by electrical stimulation to amplify its effects.What is dry needling used for?
Dry needling is great for managing pain from musculoskeletal conditions like:- Shoulder pain
- Achilles tendonitis
- Low back pain
- Temporomandibular pain (TMJ)
- Tennis elbow
- Muscle knots and tensions
- Biceps tendinitis
What is acupuncture used for?
Acupuncture can treat a wide range of symptoms, including:- Headaches and migraines
- Nausea
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Labor pains
- Menstrual cramps
- Allergic rhinitis
- Knee pain
- Fatigue
Which is better: dry needling or acupuncture?
There is no actual gauge to determine which treatment is better. It just depends on your type of pain and symptoms that let you know whether it's dry needling or acupuncture your body needs.Consult your doctor first to know whether acupuncture or dry needling will be beneficial for managing your symptoms. If it is, make sure to go to a licensed practitioner so they can determine which treatment is best for you. They'll perform a physical examination to determine your trigger points. From there, they'll create a personalized treatment plan to target your concerns and manage your symptoms.Ready to try a dry needling treatment?
If you're tired of dealing with sports injuries or muscle pains, book a dry needling session at Orlando Alternative Health. They have a team of licensed professionals that are ready to get you back into top shape. They also offer acupuncture, cupping, nutrition therapy, and vitamin injections. For questions and inquiries, feel free to contact them now. Categorized into General Health
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