Dry Needling, or dry puncture, is recognized as an adjunctive therapeutic procedure within the scope of the physiotherapist's practice. The technique is used to treat musculoskeletal and fascial disorders and connective tissue disorders.
Dry puncture has great potential in the treatment of pain in myofascial syndrome, deactivating muscle trigger points (characterized by a hyper-irritable point, located in a tight band of a muscle, or muscle fascia, associated with local and / or referred pain) . The diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome is purely clinical, based on a detailed history, complete physical examination performed by muscle palpation of the trigger points, and observation of motor function.
The dry puncture is done through the penetration of an acupuncture needle, performed without the introduction of any medication (hence its name), and its principle is the mechanical stimulation of the trigger points that are located in the skeletal muscles. The insertion of the needle is intended to undo the nodule, through a spinal reflex that generates a sudden and involuntary contraction of the affected muscle fibers and causes them to relax immediately afterwards.Dry Needling is a procedure characterized as minimally invasive, in which an acupuncture needle is inserted directly into a muscle trigger point. The technique is commonly confused with traditional Chinese acupuncture. Although an acupuncture needle is used, the therapy is based on the traditional reasoning of Western medicine, based on different neurophysiological principles.
The puncture is typically followed by stretching exercises or ergonomic adjustments through some exercises, in order to reestablish the movement completely and painlessly, thus avoiding recurrences.