Pain management is an important facet of medical care these days. Many of the protocols depend on pharmaceutical drugs. Those who are afraid of getting hooked on prescription medication, or others who find drugs an incomplete answer, may want to investigate dry needling Pennsylvania clinic therapy. This therapy has slowly gained in popularity since its beginnings over forty years ago.
The therapy, developed over forty years ago, is on the surface a combination of acupuncture and western medicine. The true philosophy is different from the ancient Chinese therapy, but for the laymen the similarities help to gain an understanding of what to expect. Needles are inserted through the skin in a manner similar to acupuncture. However, the target is not an energy meridian but a particular area of deep muscle tissue.
Filiform needles are used in many cases. These are solid and usually slightly larger in diameter than an acupuncture tool. In cases where an injection of corticosteroids or other therapeutic substance is called for, hollow hypodermic needles are used. The needle allows the therapist to pinpoint the target and stimulate a muscle or a trigger point.
Muscles can get 'knots', or dense areas of contraction, which can cause pain at the site of the knot or over an entire area of the body. Massage is one way to get these knots to relax and release. However, if the problem is in a deep layer of tissue, manual manipulation may not be enough to relieve soreness and tension.
With a needle, a skillful therapist can reach deeper into tissues than massage can go. The instrument allows precise stimulation, which can release a knotted muscle. Both athletes and sedentary patients experience an increase in muscle tone and flexibility with needling. As muscles relax, the tissue also lengthens and normal movement may be restored.
Most people don't feel the instruments passing through the skin. However, when the muscle itself is probed, there can be minor pain. This is generally in the form of cramping, as the muscle reacts to the stimulation. Soreness and bruising sometimes result, but these are usually not serious and easily relieved by soaking in an Epsom salts bath or applying ice to the area. Physical activity is generally good for recovery, although it should be light exercise rather than anything intense.
Two to four treatments are the usual course, although of course cases vary. Many therapists who work with sports injuries incorporate dry needling in their practices. They like the safety of this protocol, as well as its effectiveness and the rapid relief it can offer. In contrast to intestinal complications and possible addiction that conventional pain killers may cause, the side effects here are usually no more than temporary fatigue and soreness.
Check for clinics in your area that practice this therapy, which has some similarities to acupuncture but which is based on a different philosophy. The clinicians will be able to explain the program and advise people on whether their condition warrants this treatment. Dry needling holds out hope to those who suffer chronic back pain, for instance, or who have suffered an injury while exercising. It definitely is worth trying this mechanical way to relief and recovery before more extreme methods, like surgery, are considered.
The therapy, developed over forty years ago, is on the surface a combination of acupuncture and western medicine. The true philosophy is different from the ancient Chinese therapy, but for the laymen the similarities help to gain an understanding of what to expect. Needles are inserted through the skin in a manner similar to acupuncture. However, the target is not an energy meridian but a particular area of deep muscle tissue.
Filiform needles are used in many cases. These are solid and usually slightly larger in diameter than an acupuncture tool. In cases where an injection of corticosteroids or other therapeutic substance is called for, hollow hypodermic needles are used. The needle allows the therapist to pinpoint the target and stimulate a muscle or a trigger point.
Muscles can get 'knots', or dense areas of contraction, which can cause pain at the site of the knot or over an entire area of the body. Massage is one way to get these knots to relax and release. However, if the problem is in a deep layer of tissue, manual manipulation may not be enough to relieve soreness and tension.
With a needle, a skillful therapist can reach deeper into tissues than massage can go. The instrument allows precise stimulation, which can release a knotted muscle. Both athletes and sedentary patients experience an increase in muscle tone and flexibility with needling. As muscles relax, the tissue also lengthens and normal movement may be restored.
Most people don't feel the instruments passing through the skin. However, when the muscle itself is probed, there can be minor pain. This is generally in the form of cramping, as the muscle reacts to the stimulation. Soreness and bruising sometimes result, but these are usually not serious and easily relieved by soaking in an Epsom salts bath or applying ice to the area. Physical activity is generally good for recovery, although it should be light exercise rather than anything intense.
Two to four treatments are the usual course, although of course cases vary. Many therapists who work with sports injuries incorporate dry needling in their practices. They like the safety of this protocol, as well as its effectiveness and the rapid relief it can offer. In contrast to intestinal complications and possible addiction that conventional pain killers may cause, the side effects here are usually no more than temporary fatigue and soreness.
Check for clinics in your area that practice this therapy, which has some similarities to acupuncture but which is based on a different philosophy. The clinicians will be able to explain the program and advise people on whether their condition warrants this treatment. Dry needling holds out hope to those who suffer chronic back pain, for instance, or who have suffered an injury while exercising. It definitely is worth trying this mechanical way to relief and recovery before more extreme methods, like surgery, are considered.
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When searching for important information about dry needling Pennsylvania patients should take a tour of our official website. All the related facts about this therapy can be reviewed on this page at http://www.primalphysicaltherapy.com.
