The best Dry Needling physiotherapy

Dry needling is an innovative technique in the Netherlands that can be used as part of a total treatment. A thin needle is inserted through the skin and muscle directly into a 'trigger point'. A trigger point is a local, hardened and painful spot in a muscle, which can be the cause of pain and muscle tension complaints. Because no liquid is injected, it is called dry needling.

What is a dry needling treatment and how does it work?

Dry needling is a relatively new treatment method that has been gaining popularity in the Netherlands in recent years. It is a technique in which a thin needle is pierced through the skin and muscle directly into a 'trigger point'. A trigger point is a localized, hardened and painful spot in a muscle, which can be the cause of pain and muscle tension complaints. The big advantage of dry needling is that it can provide relatively quick relief from these complaints.

Benefits of a dry needling treatment

A dry needling treatment has several advantages compared to other treatments. The patient feels little pain during the treatment and there are no side effects. In addition, dry needling treats deeper structures in the body than many other treatments. These deeper structures often play a role in discomforts that originate at more superficial levels.

What is a trigger point?

A trigger point is a painful and hardened area in a muscle, which in addition to local pressure pain, can often cause radiating pain. The physiotherapist locates and treats these trigger points if they may be a cause of your complaints.

Origin of trigger points

• Acute – for example due to a wrong movement or accident
• Long-term overload of, for example, arm, shoulder and/or neck when using a computer
• Overload/injuries in athletes
• Prolonged absence of movement, e.g. due to plaster
• Psychological factors, such as stress and depression, that cause physical complaints

Ways in which trigger points can express themselves

• Pain and stiffness, locally or with radiating complaints
• Movement restrictions in joints
• Decreased strength in the muscle(s) involved
• Pain avoidant behavior; you will move 'differently'
• Headache, dizziness etc.

The difference between dry needling and acupuncture

Dry needling and acupuncture are two different treatments that are often confused with each other. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment in which several needles are inserted superficially into the body, which remain there for some time and influence the “energy” in the body. Dry needling usually uses one needle, which is inserted into the muscle for a short period of time. Dry needling works on specific “trigger points” and is therefore not an “energy” treatment.