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.
Solid needles are used, called filiform, unless injections of corticosteroids or other therapeutic substances are part of the treatment. That calls for hollow, hypodermic needles. Sometimes the instruments are acupuncture tools, but in needling they are often larger. The use of a needle allows the therapist to target specific areas of muscle tissue for stimulation or injection.
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.
Using this kind of long, thin instrument, a skilled therapist can reach an exact trouble spot. If a knot can be released, the relevant muscle can relax and lengthen, making normal movement possible again without pain. Flexibility and muscle tone can also be improved with this technique.
The treatment is relatively painless in most cases. Most people don't feel the needle pass through the skin, just as in acupuncture. However, the penetration into deep tissue can cause cramping, although this is not usually severe enough to cause more than temporary discomfort. Bruising can result, and some soreness may persist for a day or two following treatment. Soaking in Epsom salts or applying ice packs can help relieve these minor side effects. Mild physical activity is recommended following a treatment, although strenuous activity is not.
Many people find that two to four treatments accelerate the healing process for sports injuries like pulled muscles or tendons. This therapy is judged to be very safe, with few and very minor side effects. Most side effects are similar to what people experience after a deep massage: tiredness and maybe temporary 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.
Solid needles are used, called filiform, unless injections of corticosteroids or other therapeutic substances are part of the treatment. That calls for hollow, hypodermic needles. Sometimes the instruments are acupuncture tools, but in needling they are often larger. The use of a needle allows the therapist to target specific areas of muscle tissue for stimulation or injection.
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.
Using this kind of long, thin instrument, a skilled therapist can reach an exact trouble spot. If a knot can be released, the relevant muscle can relax and lengthen, making normal movement possible again without pain. Flexibility and muscle tone can also be improved with this technique.
The treatment is relatively painless in most cases. Most people don't feel the needle pass through the skin, just as in acupuncture. However, the penetration into deep tissue can cause cramping, although this is not usually severe enough to cause more than temporary discomfort. Bruising can result, and some soreness may persist for a day or two following treatment. Soaking in Epsom salts or applying ice packs can help relieve these minor side effects. Mild physical activity is recommended following a treatment, although strenuous activity is not.
Many people find that two to four treatments accelerate the healing process for sports injuries like pulled muscles or tendons. This therapy is judged to be very safe, with few and very minor side effects. Most side effects are similar to what people experience after a deep massage: tiredness and maybe temporary 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.
About the Author:
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.
0 comments:
Post a Comment