Expert Dry Needling in Toronto
If you are looking for Dry needling in Toronto it can be a highly effective treatment and help with a speedy recovery when combined with manual therapy and exercise. Shawn Williams has several years experience and training in dry needling to help with a variety of conditions.
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a skilled treatment technique using a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and treat muscle trigger points which are creating pain and discomfort. The results are often immediate with noticeable improvements in pain, range of motion and ability to move.
Shawn has several years experience in dry needling, high standard certification in Integrated dry needling (CIDN) and uses this technique as a very important part of his practice to get quick relief from Trigger Points. This technique is highly effective and can be of great benefit for the relief of trigger points. Dry Needling can be done as a solo treatment or can be combined with manual therapy, exercise, and acupuncture.
Is Dry Needling Different From Acupuncture?
Yes! Dry needling is a very different approach to the treatment of pain, improving range of motion and function. The two techniques should not be interchanged or confused. Even though patients often think they have had dry needling when in fact it was Acupuncture treatment.
If you are looking for dry needling treatment your practitioner should be able to clearly explain the difference between dry needling and acupuncture.
Traditional chinese medicine uses meridians to guide treatment while dry needling or intramuscular therapy uses trigger points to guide treatment. The trigger points can be found by a skilled physiotherapist and have no association with organ systems or “chi” as with Traditional Chinese Acupuncture.
Another key difference is the goal with dry needling is to release these trigger points by eliciting a”twitch response” in the muscle to get the desired treatment effect.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture can be a great option to reduce pain. Acupuncture uses meridians and Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture points to guide treatment. If pain levels are high this is a great option to help reduce the level of pain so that manual therapy, dry needling and exercise techniques can be implemented.
What is a Trigger Point?
A muscle Trigger point is a very irritable “knot” with in a taut band of muscle or fascia. Trigger points can be tender to the touch and can refer pain to other areas in the body.
How do Trigger points develop?
Trigger points develop in muscles for various reasons including overuse, tissue injury, or other causes. They can cause pain, discomfort, decrease strength and decreased movement.
How Does Dry Needling Work?
Dry Needling is a highly effective technique to decrease pain caused by trigger point. It does this through causing a twitch response in the muscle which causes the muscle to relax. This results in increased blood flow to the area, lowering concentrations of harmful chemicals surrounding the trigger point, and decreasing electrical activity to the area.
What should I expect from a session of Dry Needling?
Each session of Dry needling will start with a movement assessment and a trigger point assessment to evaluate active trigger points.
Each needle is pre-packaged in a sterilized tube. Shawn Williams Physiotherapy only uses the highest quality needles (Seirin and Dong Bang). These are two of the best brands used for dry needling. The skin is prepared with alcohol rub and then after the trigger point is needled the needle is disposed of in a sharps container.
When a trigger point is found the needle is inserted into the muscle. The needle is moved and a twitch response is elicited. This twitch response can sometimes produce some discomfort. The amount of needling is based on the patient’s tolerance for the treatment, the amount of active trigger points and size of the affected area.
Following the treatment we will reassess your condition and often find a noticeable change in pain and mobility.
Do all Physiotherapists Perform Dry Needling?
No. This is a highly skilled technique which takes extra post graduate training. Certified Integrated Dry Needling (CIDN) is a certification that ensures that you have taken postgraduate training and testing in Dry Needling.
What conditions can benefit from Dry Needling?
Dry Needling can be used when treating most muscle pain. If you are located in Toronto we would be happy to discuss with you at Shawn Williams Physiotherapy over a 20 minute Free phone consultation if Dry needling would be a treatment option for you.
Any Reasons Dry Needling Is Not For Me?
There are certain situations where Dry Needling would not be recommended. If you have any of the following conditions it is important to discuss with your physiotherapist as dry needling may not be appropriate.
Taking blood thinners
Taking immunosuppressive medications
History of clotting disorders
Pregnant
Allergic to surgical steel
History of joint replacement or other surgeries
Needle Phobia
Does Dry Needling Hurt?
The process will have varying degrees of discomfort based on individual differences. Your physiotherapist will adjust the technique to your level of tolerance. A “twitch” will occur in the muscle when the needle is inserted into the trigger point. This “twitch” is a sign that the treatment was helpful!
How will I feel after a Dry Needling session?
Following a session of Dry Needling many patients experience significant relief and improvement in range of motion. It is common for some patients to feel muscle soreness, fatigue, and stiffness for 6 to 48 hours. Patients that experience this generally improved pain and range of motion after the initial discomfort from the needle session subsides.
If you are experiencing pain, injury or a mobility problem in Toronto call us at 416-660-4187 or book a free phone consultation to find out how Dry Needling in Toronto can be an effective part of your treatment to get back to the active lifestyle you deserve.
Check out our video below to see Dry Needling performed.
So what are you waiting for. An ounce of prevention. Is worth a pound of cure.
So get with the program. For you are more than worth it. We only have one body. So best to take care of it. Don’t you think.