IMS/dry Needling for pain

Upper extremity pain -shoulder pain is very prevalent in the world today.

Shoulder pain often has myofascial trigger point (MTP). Dry Needling helps with MTPs.

Do trigger points refer pain?

MTPs often cause shoulder or referred pain and restrict movement, alter muscle timing.

What is a trigger point?

Latent and Active are two types of the trigger points. Both are tender taught bands in a muscle. MTPs can cause pain at rest or with activity.

What causes trigger points?

MTPs can be the result of sustained posture or may develop as a result of neuromuscular disorder or injury, and can lead to muscle weakness and inhibition13.

How is dry needling performed?

A form of acupuncture- Trigger point dry needling (TDN) utilizes a needle that is quickly moved in and out of the muscle relieve the local tension and reduce pain from the MTP.

Is Dry Needling effective?

Dry needling has been found to be effective for lower back and leg symptoms and has mixed results for other areas of the body13. Low quality evidence- Dry needling was found to be effective in needling of infraspinatus-a rotator cuff muscle and reduced pain in the shoulder. It also helped pain pressure thresholds in the patients13.

Did you check our blog on the Shoulder pain and Physiotherapy management- https://www.willowwellnessphysio.ca/rotator-cuff-training-for-general-shoulder-injuries/

Can dry needling help with the postural pain?

Pain/ache from sitting for prolonged durations at work or for school can lead to a nagging ache in the shoulder, neck and surrounding areas. Dry needling can help maintain the muscle balance back in the upper body by reducing tension. It was established that the addition of DN along with physical therapy was effective in improving disability, AROM in extension, flexion, side bending, and depression in patients with chronic neck pain14.

How to prepare for your first appointment for Dry needling? 

After an assessment if the dry needling is recommended, a consent form is provided to the client to understand the risk factors and the process of the dry needling. Patients can sign the consent form if they have no further questions for the PT. The patient is positioned in a comfortable position with draping as required. The muscle to be needled is cleaned with an alcohol wipe and palpation is done for the trigger points. Once the trigger point is located a needle is moved in and out of the muscle and a muscle twitch is triggered. The area is cleaned again and the muscle is palpated for further trigger points.

Are there any risk factors with dry needling?

Bruising, muscle soreness are common after the dry needling and usually resolves in a few hours. The adverse effects are discussed and explained in the consent.

How many years of experience does Physiotherapist Meenie have in dry needling?

I have been needling since 2018 and needle often several times in a day. Here is an excellent patient review from a client

“I love this clinic . Amazing staff and better service . Meenie is a great therapist, I have never found anyone that does IMS like her . Very effective. Highly recommend.”

Book Today! Call 604-533-1819 or book online 

Reference

13:Michelle Louise Hall a, Angela Claire Mackie a, Daniel Cury Ribeiro: Effects of dry needling trigger point therapy in the shoulder region on patients with upper extremity
pain and dysfunction:a systematic review with meta-analysis. Physiotherapy 104 (2018) 167–177 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29439829/
14: Slwa Sami Alattar, Hosam Alzahrani: Effectiveness of adding dry needling of the upper trapezius muscle to the usual physiotherapy for managing chronic neck pain: A
randomized controlled trial with a 7-week follow-up. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice 74 (2024) 103155. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39217854/

Author: Meenie has been working as a musculoskeletal Physiotherapist with more than 10 years of experience treating musculoskeletal injuries, she has been practicing since 2016 in Canada. Meenie has a Masters in Science Physiotherapy which she completed with merit and was awarded the vice chancellor scholarship award. She is certified in both IMS, Vestibular and Concussion rehabilitation.

Medical Disclaimer:

The information presented in this blog post is for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, treatment or a diagnosis, consult with a medical professional such as one suggested on this website. Willow Wellness and the author of this page are not liable for the associated risks of using or acting upon the information contained in this article.