Dry Needling
Dry needling FAQ
Does NINE Acupuncture offer dry needling?
Yes!
NINE offers dry needling* and intrasmuscular needling. Ash has received years of advanced training in both and is a specialist in the treatment of painful conditions with needles, regardless of what you call it!
So, what is it?
"Dry needling*" is essentially a specific form of acupuncture needling with a different name. This basic subset of therapeutic needling has gotten a lot of press in recent years as other professions see the value of acupuncture and want to expand their services to include therapeutic needling.
Dry needling* was historically limited to the needling or trigger points and has strayed from that in recent years. Acupuncturists can and do utilize needles in a broad scope and are licensed to perfom any and all aspects of dry needling, the most common of which is the treatment of trigger points—a hyperirritable location in muscle or other connective tissue that can cause pain and other issues up and downstream. Acupuncturists look at the entire musculoskeletal system via both a modern understanding of neuromuscular anatomy as well as through the lens of Chinese medicine.
It is not yet legal in the state of Washington for PTs to utilize needles in their practice. Later in 2024, an endorsement will be available to PTs who have completed proper training and performed 150 hours of supervised practice. It took more than a decade of debate between the two professions to establish educational requirements that satisfied the safety and professional concerns of acupuncturists, your needle experts.
Not all acupuncturists utilize dry needling techniques in their office, but any acupuncturist specializing in the treatment of pain will be very skilled in the techniques. Patients of mine who have had "dry needling" by non-acupuncturists often comment on how much less painful it is when performed by an acupuncturist.
Why might you want to consider acupuncture plus DN rather than DN alone?
Only a fully-trained acupuncturist has the training and skill to combine ancient theory and knowledge of the multi-systemic effects of acupuncture with a modern understanding of neuroanatomy and muscle physiology in the practice of trigger point needling. It's this systemic approach that sets true acupuncture apart from non-acupuncture practitioners who utilize a more basic and site-specific style of trigger point needling. And an acupuncturist's extensive training, experience, and skill allows them to bring about excellent results with smaller (thinner and more comfortable) needles.
Why do PTs wear gloves and acupuncturists do not?
Acupuncturists are required to pass a "Clean Needle Technique" course that does not require the use of gloves. If we expect to see blood (and that is a minor risk in acupuncture though if we do, it is typically a very small amount), we might don gloves. As noted above, acupuncturists have a very high level of training in needling techniques and can often elicit a desired response with more finesse, hence less damage to tissues (i.e. bleeding).
Ash's experience with DN training
"To settle the debate before it begins, I decided to enroll in a dry needling course at Myopain Seminars that was designed and taught by physical therapists. After the first 3-day weekend of the course, it was clear I had little to learn (as an already experienced needle expert) so I opted not to pursue a certificate I don't need. That said, it was still a well-taught course!"
*Why is it called "dry needling"?
The term is really a misnomer—it refers to needling a trigger point with an empty or "dry" hypodermic needle which is out of scope for physical therapy, so they picked up acupuncture needles years ago instead.
*PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE RECEIVING CONCURRENT DRY NEEDLING FROM ANOTHER PRACTITIONER*
The importance of treating pain
Pain causes us not only physical but also emotional distress and, at times, the reverse is also true.
I have seen patients' lives completely transformed by relieving of them of their pain. That has served as incredible motivation to learn to do it better.
Acupuncture is physical medicine--the branch of medicine that treats biomechanical disorders and injuries. it both treats pain and frees up tension in musculoskeletal tissues so underlying systems can work better, too. I utilize both ancient and modern techniques—such as trigger point needling aka "dry needling," motor point needling, segmental acupuncture, scalp acupuncture and others.
I have a particular interest in treating athletes. In 2011, I published an article in the Journal of Chinese Medicine about the acupuncture treatment of lower leg injuries in runners: "The Runner's Point."