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DRY NEEDLING TECHNIQUE TO TREAT CERVICOGENIC (NECK TO HEAD) HEADACHES
Dry needling is beneficial for certain types of headaches, including tension-type headaches and cervicogenic headaches. These headaches commonly stem from muscle tightness or “knots” or “trigger points” in the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
Trigger points are hyper-irritable spots in muscles that can cause referred pain.
Dry needling works directly into and around these areas of muscle tension/ trigger points.
What does dry needling do?
- Reduces muscle tension and improves the tone of the muscle.
- Improves oxygenated blood flow to a tight muscle- tight muscle often has a poor blood supply; improving this will help tissues heal and reduce pain.
- Helps regulate nerve activity
- Provides quick relief for tension
- Improves range of motion of joints restricted by muscle tightness, which helps improve posture.
- Complements other manual therapy techniques – when used in conjunction with other techniques, such as stretching and mobilization, dry needling can enhance the effectiveness of treatment.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
Whilst both use thin needles to pierce the skin, the principles of dry needling and acupuncture are very different.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese method that may relieve pain and other symptoms of health concerns. It is thought to work on “Qi” (energy) throughout the body, causing the brain to release endorphins/ “feel-good” chemicals.
Dry needling is a type of treatment, mostly used for pain and mobility issues caused by trigger points. The needles are inserted into the muscle, which can cause a muscle twitch/ contraction, which increases blood flow, and reduces pain and tightness.
What to expect from dry needling:
The needles used are very thin; however, they will vary in length depending on which body area the needle needs to be used on. Because of this, most of the time you won’t notice much when the needle penetrates the skin- at most, you will feel a pinprick sensation.
When the needle is placed into the tight band of muscle or trigger point, there may be some mild discomfort when the muscle twitches or contracts- this is a good thing as it indicates the right area has been reached.
After treatment, there may be some tenderness, which for most lasts no longer than 24 hours.
The Hempstead Therapy team comprise of various practitioners , including Physiotherapists and Osteopaths, many of which employ Dry Needling techniques to treat headache conditions.
However, should you have an aversion to needles there are of course other techniques that can aid in improving headache and neck conditions. For more information or to discuss with one of our clinical team, telephone us on 01634 393113 and we will be more than happy to assist.