Dry Needling vs Acupuncture

Introduction

Dry needling and acupuncture seem similar, but they have many differences. Acupuncture, originating in ancient China, involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body to improve the flow of energy, or "qi." In contrast, dry needling is a newer therapy derived from Western medicine, targeting muscle trigger points to reduce pain and improve function. While acupuncture has been practiced for centuries as part of traditional Chinese medicine, dry needling has gained recognition more recently within mainstream medical settings as a component of comprehensive pain management plans. Both therapies involve the use of needles but have distinct techniques and theoretical frameworks.

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a physiotherapy procedure in which thin, short, stainless steel needles are inserted into the skin. These needles help relieve the pain. No medications are injected through these needles, hence the term dry needling.

How Does Dry Needling Work?

• When a muscle is injured or overused, spasms and trigger points form in the muscles, reducing the blood supply. As a result, the muscles become sore and painful.

• Stimulating a trigger point with these needles causes a local twitch response in the muscle, making the blood supply rush back into the muscles.

• The pricking also stimulates the nerve fibers, which signal the brain to produce endorphins, reducing the pain.

• Dry needling reduces tightness, pain, and referred pain and increases muscle blood flow. In addition, there is an improvement in pain and mobility after treatment.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient traditional Chinese procedure in which thin, solid, metallic needles penetrate the skin. These needles are then activated gently by the doctor's hand or with electrical stimulation.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Traditional Chinese medical practitioners believe the human body has many acupuncture points connected by pathways that create an energy flow called Qi through the body. Acupuncture at certain points in the body helps improve energy flow, thus improving health. Heat or electricity is used to stimulate the needles. Other than needles, some stimulation methods include friction, pressure, heat (moxibustion), suction (cupping), and electromagnetic energy.

Is Dry Needling and Acupuncture Painful?

Dry Needling

• The patient feels pain when the doctor tries to locate the trigger points.

• Discomfort or mild prick while the needle is inserted. Some people do not feel the prick.

• Pain is felt when the needle reaches the trigger point.

• Soreness and tightness are felt after the treatment. Stretching and movements help in reducing discomfort after the treatment.

Acupuncture

• Minimal pain is felt when the needle is inserted. However, some people feel a sensation of pressure or ache.

• Treatment is painful if the needles are placed improperly.

• The patient feels energized and relaxed after the treatment.

What Are the Benefits of Acupuncture and Dry Needling?

Dry Needling

Dry needling provides relief from muscle stiffness and pain, improves flexibility, increases the range of motion and movement, and used to treat sports injuries. Some conditions that use dry needling treatment include

• Disc and joint issues.

• Migraine.

• Temporomandibular joint disorders.

• Tension-type headaches.

• Tendinitis

• Myofascial pain.

• Spinal issues.

• Pelvic pain.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.

Acupuncture

It stimulates the central nervous system, increases blood flow and lowers inflammation, triggers the release of endorphins, helps in relieving pain, treats symptoms like chronic pain, nausea, headache, vomiting, menstrual cramps, allergies, etc., and used to treat hundreds of conditions. Some of the conditions where acupuncture is used are listed below.

• Gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids.

• Depression, anxiety, insomnia, neurosis.

• Arthritis, muscle pain, cramps, weakness, back pain, sciatica, and neck pain.

• Sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis.

• Infertility.

• Headaches and migraines.

• Postoperative pain.

• Neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

• Stroke.

• Addictions.

When Are Acupuncture and Dry Needling Contraindicated?

Dry Needling

Dry needling is contraindicated in the following persons.

• Children below 12 years of age.

• Pregnant women.

• People who have a fear of needles.

• Immediately after surgery.

• People with poor immune systems.

• Patients who are using blood thinning medications.

• Localized edema.

• Patients who are unwilling to try.

• Vascular diseases like varicose veins.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is contraindicated in

• Patients with acute infections and skin malignancy.

• Patients who are suffering from psychosis or delusions.

• Drug or alcohol intoxication.

• Patients with a history of seizures.

• In pregnancy, the abdominal and lumbosacral areas should be avoided using needles.

• Bleeding disorders such as hemophilia.

• Scars, keloids, recent incision wounds, and other areas of skin with poor condition.

What Are the Side Effects of Acupuncture and Dry Needling?

Side Effects of Dry Needling:

Some common side effects include:

• Soreness during and after the treatment.

• Bruising or bleeding in the injection site.

• Fatigue and dizziness may occur in some cases.

Serious side effects occur in very rare cases. These include:

• Excessive bleeding from the insertion site.

• Shortness of breath.

• Improper needle placement in the thoracic area may lead to a pneumothorax (collapsed lung).

Side Effects of Acupuncture

Side effects are rare when done by a trained professional. Complications are mainly due to less experienced or qualified practitioners. Common side effects that can occur include

• Risk of infection.

• Nerve injury.

• Bleeding.

• Disease transmission.

• Very rarely, there is pneumothorax, pneumoperitoneum, or organ puncture.

What Do Studies and Research Say About Dry Needling?

• Since dry needling is relatively new, few studies and research have been conducted.

• One study compared dry needling and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) as a first-line treatment. They found dry needling was more effective than NSAIDs, topical cream, and brace use by six months.

• A study about dry needling vs. sham needling for heel pain found that dry needling was more effective.

What Do Studies and Research Say About Acupuncture?

• A study showed that acupuncture, along with other treatments for neck pain, showed a more significant reduction of symptoms than the traditional treatment alone.

• Another research suggests that acupuncture treatment for migraines helps in preventing people from future episodes.

• A review found that acupuncture is more effective in knee pain due to osteoarthritis.

• Many researches and studies have been done to prove the effectiveness of acupuncture in various conditions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both acupuncture and dry needling are effective procedures. Acupuncture has more definitive research done. The body of research on dry needling is growing, further studies are needed to understand its limitations and benefits fully. Patient reactions to both treatments vary, with some experiencing significant relief and others reporting minimal or no improvement. When performed by skilled practitioners, acupuncture and dry needling can be valuable components of a comprehensive pain management plan. As research advances and more data becomes available, acupuncture and dry needling may gain further acceptance alongside conventional treatments.