Dry Needling in Brisbane

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Dry Needling Physiotherapy for Fast Pain Relief

Dry needling is a popular treatment for reducing muscle pain and improving the range of motion caused by acute or chronic injury. 

Our skilled physiotherapists also use dry needling to ease muscle tension, tightness, and spasms and in rehabilitation programs to speed up the recovery process.

If you’re based near Brisbane and looking for effective pain relief treatments, contact us at (07) 3278 1186 or book a treatment online. Read on to learn more about what dry needling can do for you.

What is Dry Needling?

Physiotherapists have embraced the practice of Dry Needling, recognising its potential for remarkable healing effects. This technique involves the insertion of a needle, which stimulates a reaction at the targeted site.

As the needle penetrates, it activates the nerve fibres, initiating a response within the central nervous system. This prompts the brain to mobilise its healing mechanisms, dispatching the necessary resources to restore the area.

The process triggers local vasodilation and stimulates local immune responses, enhancing the body’s natural healing ability and positively affecting surrounding joints and tissues.

GracevillePhysio Action 07 - Dry Needling

Dry Needling, an ancient form of healing that has stood the test of time and continues to be an invaluable tool in physiotherapy.

How Does Dry Needling Ease Pain?

Also known as intramuscular stimulation (IMS), dry needling involves the needling of a muscle’s trigger points without any medication or substances injected into the muscle. A single use, thin needle (similar to the needles used in acupuncture) is inserted into the skin and muscle to release pain from specific points in the muscle.

These points are known as myofascial trigger points which are a collection of small muscle fibre knots contracted into each other. These knots are related to the sensation of pain in the overall muscle and dry needling is used to help release these knots and relieve the associated pain in the muscles.

GracevillePhysio Action 06 - Dry Needling

What Conditions Can Be Treated?

Dry needling forms a part of our treatment range for conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system and can help people suffering from:

  • Acute sporting injuries
  • Lower back pain and neck pain (including tension and postural problems)
  • Pelvic pain
  • Headaches
  • Elbow and wrist tendonitis
  • Tennis elbow
  • Rotator cuff issues and general shoulder pain
  • Foot and ankle problems including achilles pain and tendonitis
  • Buttock and leg pain (including sciatic pain)
  • Hamstring strains, knee pain and calf tightness or cramps
  • Fibromyalgia

Does dry needling hurt?

Other than an initial twitch, most people do not feel a thing!

When dry needling is performed correctly, there will be a minor twitch response that is an involuntary contraction of the muscle fibres around the area being treated.

This twitch response is a natural reflex stemming from your spinal cord and indicates proper placement of a needle in the targeted trigger point.

GracevillePhysio Action 07 - Dry Needling

Side effects of working out after a session

It is common to feel some aches and general soreness after a treatment which can last for up to 48 hours after a treatment. Once this soreness has subsided, there is usually an improvement in the initial symptoms of the treated area though some conditions may require a few treatments to fully resolve pain.

Applying heat or ice over the treated area after a dry needling session may help alleviate post treatment soreness faster. You may also be advised to modify your exercise or activity program for a few days after the treatment in order to gain the best results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dry needling different to acupuncture?

The short answer is yes. While both of these techniques involve inserting thin needles into various parts of the body, the similarity stops there. Dry needling specifically focuses on releasing myofascial (muscular) trigger points.

How long does it take for dry needling to work?

Typically, you can see increased mobility and pain reductions within 24 hours of your appointment. For long term results, we recommend at least 3-4 dry needling sessions.

How much does a session cost and how can I book in?

A dry needling session can be booked in as part of a regular physiotherapy treatment session or you can book in for a stand alone dry needling session. Sessions are around 30 minutes on average though if your physiotherapist thinks you will benefit from leaving the needles in for a period of time at the end of the session, you may end up having a longer consultation (there is no extra charge for this).

For pricing of this treatment, please call our friendly staff. Remedial Massage treatment can incorporate dry needling as part of the treatment for an additional fee.

Contact Graceville Physio for Dry Needling Today

If you’re based near Brisbane and looking for dry needling or other effective pain relief techniques, you can contact us on (07) 3278 1186 or book a treatment online. We also service suburbs near Graceville including Indooroopilly, Yeronga, Sherwood, Oxley, Corinda, Tennyson and Chelmer.