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My physiotherapist treats me with needles ...

GOPhysio

My physiotherapist treats me with needles ...

Do you think it is not acupuncture, but the use of a needle under the dermis (dry needling) in order to relax the muscle tension points, reduce inflammation and stimulate a response the nervous system. 
 
The technique involves inserting a very fine and sterile needle into a point of painful muscle tension or into an area of inflammation. These points of muscle tension are called trigger points. They are an area of hypoxic (oxygen-deficient) muscle fibers that causes pain. We all have such points in our muscles, but their level of pain is variable. These points may be painful locally, but may also refer to pain in a remote area, contribute to decreased mobility and reduced muscle activity.
 
The principle of the needle is to disable the trigger point by creating an involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers allowing the release of it later. At the same time, there is a dilation of the blood vessels that bring more blood and oxygen to the hypoxic muscle fibers allowing them to return to normal function and therefore reduce pain. The effects can be immediate in some cases or take a few hours to a few days to be felt.
 

What conditions can benefit from treatment of dry needles?

Trigger point muscular dysfunction may be the primary and / or secondary cause of several conditions such as overuse injuries, tendonopathies, neck pain, back pain, migraines, shoulder rigging syndrome, capsulitis, tunnel carpal, sacroiliac dysfunction, sciatica, muscle stretching, runner's knee, ligament sprain, patello-femoral syndrome or plantar fasciitis. If active trigger points cause pain, muscle weakness or stiffness then a dry needle treatment may help.
 

Is it painful? 

Most people do not feel the insertion of the needle. When it reaches the trigger point, a brief sensation of cramp or heaviness is felt either locally or in the trigger point reference area. These sensations are quite desirable to obtain good results. 
 

Do all physiotherapists have the right to use the needles? 

No, only a few physiotherapists are accredited in the Gatineau / Cantley area. It is therefore very important to ensure that they have received their accreditation from the Professional Order of Physiotherapy of Quebec. You are lucky lucky reader because your physiotherapy clinics in Cantley and Gatineau are accredited!