Medical Acupuncture otherwise known as dry needling involves inserting fine needles for a therapeutic effect. Overall, it is an adaptation of the Chinese method using modern up-to-date knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
Medical Acupuncture is a treatment which can relieve symptoms of some physical and psychological conditions and may encourage the patient’s body to heal and repair itself, if it is able to do so.
Acupuncture stimulates the nerves in skin and muscle. The effects are an increase blood flow to the area, an increase in the body’s release of natural painkillers – endorphin and serotonin – in the pain pathways of both the spinal cord and the brain. This modifies the way pain signals are received.
During a treatment with of Medical acupuncture session, we use needles into areas called Trigger Points (TRPTs). We place and manipulate the needle to achieve a variety of effects.
Needling or pulsing of a myofascial trigger point will elicit a local twitch response (LTR), which is an involuntary spinal cord reflex in which the muscle fibres in the taut band of muscle contract. The local twitch response indicates the proper placement of the needle in a trigger point. Needling that elicits LTRs improves treatment outcomes, and may work by activating endogenous opioids, increase local blood flow allowing for the removal of metabolic waste and reducing muscular hypertonicity.
At Younger Chiropractic we use Medical Acupuncture to commonly treat musculoskeletal pain, for example – back, shoulder, neck and leg pain. We use it successfully to treat headaches, migraines, trapped nerves, chronic muscle strains, sports injuries and various kinds of arthritic and rheumatic pain. We can use Medical Acupuncture in isolation however we believe a combination of treatment techniques including Medical Acupuncture is the best and quickest way to achieve the best results.
Medical Acupuncture is a very safe form of treatment and at Younger Chiropractic we have found it to be an extremely useful way of treating musculoskeletal injury. If you are unsure as to whether Medical acupuncture is for you please do not hesitate to contact us at the clinic and have a chat with one of our practitioners or alternatively book in today and see how we can help.