Welcome to the physiogain community and here we are again with a new topic – dry needling vs acupuncture – clear all your doubts here in detail, the difference between dry needling and acupuncture, what’s the difference between dry needling and acupuncture.
These are the questions, people usually ask about dry needling.
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Dry needling vs acupuncture
For a beginner, it is very difficult to distinguish these techniques.
But this is the only time, you will find similarities because when you go deep into these techniques, you will find both of them completely different from each other.
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years while dry needling came into practice in recent years.
The former has proven research of effectiveness while the latter one has less research-based proof.
One technique focuses on opening up a person’s flow of chi. The other technique focuses on stimulating the trigger points, or irritable muscles.
So, to give you a clear understanding, we will go on to each of these techniques one by one.
What is dry needling?
Dry needling is a modern era technique to ease muscular pain.
Dry needling is a famous technique nowadays.
In this technique, the therapist or the practitioner inserts a needle into the skin.
It does not inject liquid or medicine into the body.
In this technique, the practitioner uses trigger points in your muscle or tissue to ease the pain.
Dry needling needles help in releasing the knot and relieve any muscle pain. In this technique, the practitioner leaves the needle in your skin for a short period.
Some health care professionals receive training in this field of dry needling.
Physical and sports therapists usually practice this technique. There is no regulatory board for dry needling so if someone performing dry needling, we can’t say whether he is legitimate or not.
If you want to learn dry needling then I recommend you to go to a postgraduate of physical therapy, having a certification in dry needling.
Benefits of dry needling
Dry needling may provide relief for stiffness and muscular pain.
The involvement of trigger points may improve range of motion and increase flexibility., that’s why this technique is often used in sports injuries.
Side effects of dry needling
Few mild side effects are very common in dry needling but the serious ones are rare.
Common side effects are
- Bleeding
- Temporary soreness
- Bruising
If the practitioner uses the non-sterile needle in this technique, then the chances of blood-borne illness, infection, and serious disease are high.
So, make sure that the practitioner uses a sterile needle.
This technique doesn’t have a proper board so it’s very difficult to find a legitimate practitioner.
What is acupuncture?
It is a traditional technique that is in use since ancient times.
Many healthcare professionals practice this technique. Training for this technique requires three to four years.
Training includes the instruction of how to use the needles and instruction for diagnosing
In addition to this training, the practitioner of acupuncture must undergo testing from the national board of examiners and they have to take the instructional courses each year to maintain their license.
In this technique, they believed that your health is set by the flow of chi in your body. They believe that chi travels through the human body through twelve distinct pathways called a meridian.
These meridians are related to each organ at some point in your body, and the chi is flowing efficiently alongside those pathways.
Acupuncture is all about the way to correct the flow of your chi through your body and bring it back into balance.
Acupuncture is achieved with the aid of using putting the needles in a few unique factors to your frame and making your chi go with the drift thru the appropriate pathway.
Benefits of acupuncture
The fundamental belief on which acupuncture works is that your ill health is the result of blocked chi.
Chi provides your body with healing energy. This technique works to remove these blockages and return the flow of energy to maintain your body balance.
Treatment of multiple problems:-
- Allergies
- Menstrual cramps
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Pain
Side effects of acupuncture
This technique is performed by a licensed acupuncturist so make sure while taking the treatment that the practitioner should be legitimate or a certified professional.
If you have any queries regarding this topic then let me know in the comments below.