Acupuncture and dry needling may sound similar, but they have quite different benefits and uses. Dry needling is mostly used for treating tight muscle blocks, while acupuncture focuses more on body balance and blood and qi flow.
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Both dry needling and acupuncture use then filiform stainless-steel needles, which are inserted into certain points in the body with the aim of alleviating symptoms ranging from pain to anxiety.
Acupuncture explained
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that is offered by thousands of practitioners around the world, including specialists in acupuncture Evesham. Registered practitioners can be found on the British Acupuncture Council website
Acupuncture Evesham and elsewhere is based on the idea of qi (pronounced ‘chee’), which is the flow of energy around the body. Qi that doesn’t flow freely can cause illness, with acupuncture aiming to remedy this to restore balance and help with both physical and mental health conditions.
Understanding dry needling
Dry needling is a specific treatment aimed at alleviating muscular pain. It is usually performed by sports injury and physical therapists, with the needle positions based on a person’s anatomy and targeting the likes of joints, nerves, and muscles. Specialists in dry needling claim this helps to increase oxygen and blood flow and reduce the likes of tension, spasms, and muscle pain. The idea is that recovery can be sped up by making the body focus on sorting out a specific troublesome area.
Which treatment is best?
The right treatment will depend on a variety of factors, including the condition being treated and personal preference; for example, you may choose dry needling for muscle pain but opt for acupuncture to help with the likes of anxiety, allergies, or nausea.
Whether you choose acupuncture or dry needling, it is important that you speak to your doctor beforehand to check you are suitable for the intervention. Acupuncture is not suitable if you have a pacemaker, for example, and needles may not be right if you have a blood clotting disorder.