Dry Needling
Dry needling has become very popular in recent years among health professionals (physiotherapists, podiatrists, doctors, athletic trainers, physiatrists, veterinarians or neurologists, among others) due to its great effectiveness and ability to treat and monitor the target area in a more effective way. In addition, the dry needling technique can be applied in most areas of pain and soft tissue treatment and is widely recognised in the sports and neurological fields. Dry needling has positioned itself as a pioneering technique in terms of invasive physiotherapy, with more and more qualified trainers, well-trained professionals and active in scientific publications.
What does dry needling consist of?
Dry needling consists of introducing needles through the skin, without injecting any type of substance. The main objective is to provoke a mechanical stimulus in the target tissue to cause a series of biochemical responses to produce analgesia and improve functionality. Its most frequent use is in myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), specifically focused on the treatment of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), which cause the symptomatology of MPS.
What is MPS (Myofascial Pain Syndrome)?
This syndrome is defined as the set of signs and symptoms caused by myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). These include pain (often referred to, outside the local area of the injury), muscle weakness, limited mobility, muscle fatigue, etc. Treatment is focused on the MTrPs and therefore on the site where the needles are inserted.
What is a MTrP (Myofascial Trigger Point)?
An MTrP is a muscle area with a small contracture caused by dysfunctional motor plaques, which produces local or referred pressure pain in another distant area. This point is located within a tight muscle band and has some relief (nodule). Abnormal spontaneous electromyographic activity and changes in the biochemical environment can be observed in these areas, with an increased concentration of substances causing peripheral sensitisation. These conditions may account for allodynia and hyperalgesia in these areas. The trigger point is specified as the cause of the patient’s pain when the following criteria are met recognition of the tight band, nodule producing pain on pressure, appreciation of the patient’s usual pain.
What are the uses of dry needling?
Dry needling can be used in many pathologies, due to its great effectiveness and precision in the treatment of the objective target area. Below, some of the pathologies with the most scientific studies carried out are:
- Shoulder myofascial pain.
- Chronic subacromial syndrome (impingement).
- Low back pain.
- Chronic neck pain, migraines, and tension headaches.
- Chronic myofascial knee pain.
- Pain and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint.
- Spasticity in incomplete tetraplegia and cerebral palsy.
Why use Agupunt needles?
Our needles, created by our R&D department, have been designed and manufactured specifically for dry needling, and produced with AISI 304H stainless steel, both in the handle and in the body, making them more durable and flexible. They are also finished with a specific sharpening, which means that they are conductive and can also be used for electrotherapy.
Thanks to its body polished with state-of-the-art machinery and lubricated with a technique developed by Agupunt, multiple insertions are achieved, avoiding unnecessary pain and aggression to the target tissue. The body of our needle also has optimal flexibility to perform so that the technique can be carried out in any direction without the needle bending or breaking. (Stress tests are carried out on the steel and needles to ensure the optimal balance between flexibility and robustness).
Another distinguishing feature is the unique shape of the tip, which is made with high-precision robots developed by Agupunt engineering. This improves the safety of the technique, and allows us to make much cleaner insertions, thus achieving less deterioration of the sharpening, and the consequent less painful and smoother operation. In addition, the needles have a headless, flexible and extra-long handle for an optimal grip when performing the quick in and out technique and a much more precise insertion.
The needles come with a guide tube, in which space is left to rest the cannula on the skin and the handle protrudes, facilitating the impulse technique.
