Intro to dry needling and manips

Question 1

Explain the difference btwn dry needling and acupuncturists

Answer 1

Dry needling uses thin, dry needling (withour meds)
that go deepp into the muscle to cause physical change that can be observed on imaging; muscle fibers are more parallel after DN
- med researched based

Acupuncture
uses eastern philosophy and meridians
- only penetrates skin

• both use dry needles and require license

Question 2

what can Dry needling be used for?

Answer 2

• Trigger points
• MSK and connective tissue
• being looked into:
  Tendons, ligaments, periosteum, scar tissue, even peripheral nerves?

Question 3

what are trigger points?

Answer 3

-Hypersensitive spot
-Palpable taut band
-Hypoxic “nodule”
- a theory on how TrgPs exist is by a stressed motor end plate, that releases excess Ca+ and Ach causing acidifcation. The released irritants, cause micro circulation dysfunctions and lead to lack of nutrients and impaired waste removal.
There is an increased energy/ metabolism demand , yet there is a dysfxn in O2 delivery, therefore pain and dysfxn occur and lead to stimulation of sarcomeres and formation of taught bands and contraction nodules.

Question 4

What are the 2 types of trigger points ?

Answer 4

• Active: spontaneously painful - less common, Increased levels of Acid, Catecholamines, & Cytokines found in active TrPs
• Latent: painful only when palpated
• When stimulated, Trs can refer pain and elicit local twitch response. This twitch response does not have to be seen like a pop does not need to be heard in a manipulation

Question 5

A patient asks you about the physiological response to Dry needling. What chemical can you list that are increased in a trigger point and decreased after DNing?

Answer 5

• Norepinephrine•TNG –α
• Interleukin 1,6,8,12
• Substance P
• Serotonin
• Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide
• Histamines

Question 6

A patient asks, what can Dry needling do for me? what do you say?

Answer 6

•Presence of trigger points alters muscle activation patterns
- not treating the condition by addressing the TPs, we are going to a source of pain that is seen with the whole picture

Question 7

Should you prioritize painfulness or anatomical landmarks while DNing a Trigger point?

Answer 7

prioritize the painful area