Dry Needling

During dry needling treatments, trained practitioners insert fine fili form needles into the surface of the skin through to the muscle and/or fascia below. These fine stainless-steel needles are placed at specific trigger points associated with the knotted or hard muscles in the problem area.

By carefully placing the needles at the targeted points, these trigger points are deactivated, thereby loosening tight or knotted muscles.

Your chiropractor may recommend dry needling as part of a broader treatment program for musculoskeletal pain, movement impairments or rehabilitation.

There are two main types of dry needling techniques: Travell and Simons, and Gunn’s Intramuscular Stimulation. Both have some similar components, although Gunn’s technique tends to focus on the muscles supplied by a particular nerve, rather than on a single tight muscle. This allows for what is known as a segmental approach, meaning that all areas are dealt with. This approach is based on the idea that the peripheral problem comes from “unwell nerves” more centrally.

The Travell and Simons technique focuses on the junction where a nerve enters a muscle. If the nerve signal is producing “noise,” or constant signals, this can result in small and slow muscle contractions that aren’t enough to cause the muscle to move but can result in tightness and knots.

Clinically, we see great results from both techniques. Your chiropractor will determine which approach is best suited to your condition and can discuss the different techniques with you before proceeding.

It is important to note that dry needling is not acupuncture. While there are similarities, acupuncture is based in TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) and uses the philosophy and understanding of Meridians (energy pathways). At Better Backs, we do not provide acupuncture therapy.

If you are an existing patient and you’re interested in dry needling, please talk to Dr David Jones (Chiropractor) or Dr Emily Mitrevski (Chiropractor) at your next appointment. If you are making your first appointment, please tell reception that you are interested in dry needling so we can add extra time to your initial appointment.

At Better Backs, we are your trusted local chiropractors and dry needling practitioners. We offer a wide range of services including remedial massage, orthotics, personal training, low back treatment and more. With a clinic in Mitcham, we service a broad area across Melbourne’s inner, eastern and southeastern suburbs including Blackburn, Ringwood, Nunawading, Vermont and other nearby areas.