Dry Needling vs Acupuncture header. Acupuncture needle used for dry needling rehabilitation medical treament for physiotherapy and pain due to physical injury in the hand of the doctor.

Which to Choose?
Dry Needling vs Acupuncture

Venn Diagram of Dry Needling vs Acupuncture with descriptions of each practice below.
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Trigger Point Needling vs Acupuncture Venn Diagram with descriptions of each below the diagram. The things in common are: 1. Both use thin, solid, filiform needles 2. Non-pharmaceutical as neither involves injecting substance. 3. Both are used to address pain and muscular dysfunction 4. Minimally invasive with relatively low risk when performed by trained professional

Venn Diagram of Dry Needling vs Acupuncture with descriptions of each practice below.

What Is Trigger Point Dry Needling (TDN)?

Trigger point dry needling physical therapy is a technique used by physical therapists and other healthcare professionals to treat myofascial trigger points —hyperirritable spots in muscle that are associated with tight bands of muscle fibers. The goal is to relieve pain, improve range of motion, and restore function by targeting these trigger points directly. The health care professional inserts a thin, filiform needle directly into the trigger point. The needle causes a local twitch response, an involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers. The response and contraction helps release the knot in muscles, which improves blood flow, and decreases pain.

Common Uses
for TDN is to Treat

  • Muscle pain and tightness
  • Chronic pain conditions, such as tension headaches and neck/back pain
  • Sports injuries
  • Tendinopathies and joint pain

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture, a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC) that has been practiced for thousands of years, is based on the concept of Qi, which is considered the life energy that flows through the body along meridians. The aim of acupuncture is to balance the flow of Qi by inserting needles at specific acupuncture points, which are located along these meridians. In addition, this practice aims to promote healing, reduce pain, and restore overall balance in the body. Practitioners insert thin needles into acupuncture points based on a TCM diagnosis. These points may or may not correspond to areas of pain. Researchers believe that the mechanism influences neurological, hormonal, and immune responses.

Common Uses for
Acupuncture is to Treat

  • Pain (chronic and acute)
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Digestive disorders
  • Sleep issues
  • Menstrual irregularities
  • General wellness

Which one is right for you?

Hopefully this comparison of Dry Needling vs Acupuncture helps in the decision of which is a better choice for you. Our physical therapists can assess if you are a candidate for dry needling. Evolution Physical Therapy provides trigger point dry needling physical therapy, they do not provide acupuncture services.

Call us today with any questions and/or to schedule an appointment to start your journey of managing your pain and getting back to the activities you love!
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