If you're in pain, you want relief. General practitioners can diagnose the problem and, probably, prescribe a painkiller. Unfortunately, this kind of temporary fix can help immediate suffering but does little to heal or promote long-lasting improvement. What can be long-lasting is an addiction to prescription medicine. For this reason, people with chronic pain or muscle injuries may try alternative methods. Dry needling Pennsylvania is one therapy gaining in popularity.
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 contract and fail to release again. This instinctive reaction to potential injury - or sometimes to tension - is what is called 'knotting' by massage therapists. When muscles freeze like this, they can affect skeletal alignment and cause pain in their immediate area or in other parts of the body.
If manual manipulation (massage) is not able to release the knots, the use of properly placed needles can offer help. Torn ligaments and tendons can also be targeted to accelerate healing. Needling improves muscle tone and flexibility, too. The restoration of normal movement is a great benefit to those crippled with pain or injured in sports.
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.
Many clinics in Pennsylvania offer this therapy. The therapists on staff will be able to explain the purpose of the treatment, as well as particulars of the technique. Needling holds promise for those who struggle with chronic pain, like a sore back, which can affect a person's whole quality of life. It also has applications in sports medicine and healing.
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 contract and fail to release again. This instinctive reaction to potential injury - or sometimes to tension - is what is called 'knotting' by massage therapists. When muscles freeze like this, they can affect skeletal alignment and cause pain in their immediate area or in other parts of the body.
If manual manipulation (massage) is not able to release the knots, the use of properly placed needles can offer help. Torn ligaments and tendons can also be targeted to accelerate healing. Needling improves muscle tone and flexibility, too. The restoration of normal movement is a great benefit to those crippled with pain or injured in sports.
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.
Many clinics in Pennsylvania offer this therapy. The therapists on staff will be able to explain the purpose of the treatment, as well as particulars of the technique. Needling holds promise for those who struggle with chronic pain, like a sore back, which can affect a person's whole quality of life. It also has applications in sports medicine and healing.
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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.
