Dry needles spur natural healing

[Guest guest]

Dry needles spur natural healing

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/kuwaitnews/faqdetails.asp?

faid=1011 & faqid=13

Dry needling is a treatment where fine needles are inserted into the

skin and tissues at certain points of the body for therapeutic

purposes, such as pain relief, improvement in physical function and

stimulation of natural healing. Unlike injections given by physicians

or nurses, no substance or drug is injected into the body and hence

the term " dry " needling. The needles are generally stainless steel,

very thin, flexible, and rounded, but sharp at the tip. Two widely

practiced forms of dry needling include `acupuncture'

and `intramuscular stimulation (IMS)'.

Balance

Acupuncture has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine and has

been in use for thousands of years as a system of diagnosing and

treating pain and disease. Classical acupuncture is one component of

traditional Chinese medicine, which is focused on the maintenance of

health and physical functioning through the balance of energy

or `Qi' (pronounced `chee') and blood in the body. The two basic

forms of energy are Yin and Yang. The general theory of acupuncture

is based on the premise that good health is achieved when the body is

in a balanced state, i.e. the Yin and Yang energies are equal in the

body.

This happens when Qi is able to flow freely through various meridians

or channels in the body. If the flow of Qi becomes blocked, weakened

or even stagnated, an imbalance in the body occurs. According to

traditional Chinese medicine, an imbalance in the body is responsible

for disease and ill physical health. Stimulation of specific

acupuncture points along the involved channel can unblock, strengthen

and move the Qi to effectively rebalance the energy system and

restore health. Often times, the patient may feel a dull, heavy, or

aching feeling when the needle is correctly placed, which is referred

to as `de Qi'.

Research

Although acupuncture has proven successful for thousands of years in

China it is only in the last 30 years that medicine and science in

North America and Europe have begun to study its effectiveness.

Research has shown that acupuncture stimulates the body to produce

its own natural pain relieving chemicals called endorphins.

Endorphins block pathways that send pain messages from the body to

the brain, resulting in pain relief. Acupuncture has also been shown

to release other biochemicals that boost the immune system, and

regulate blood pressure, circulation, and body temperature – all of

which can help the body respond to an injury.

Interestingly, most acupuncture points correspond to known neural

structures. One can actually find points electrically on the skin

with a device that measures skin resistance. Most acupuncture points

have a lower skin resistance than the surrounding skin, which is

consistent from person to person.

Several different forms of acupuncture exist today. Electro-

acupuncture uses gentle electric current to stimulate needles

inserted into acupuncture points. Laser acupuncture uses a low

powered laser instead of acupuncture needles to stimulate points.

Scalp acupuncture involves insertion of needles along the scalp to

stimulate motor cortical activity in post-stroke patients. Ear

acupuncture states that the entire body is represented on the ear

like an inverted fetus and that ear points are only effective and

active during times of pathology. Finger acupressure uses the

fingertip to stimulate points and the Japanese form of this is known

as Shiatsu. Although acupuncture has no absolute contraindications,

pregnant women and haemophiliacs should be treated with caution. In

addition, acupuncture combined with the use of electrical stimulation

should be avoided for people with pacemakers unless it is approved by

their cardiologist.

Syndrome

IMS is a system of diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain

syndromes that uses acupuncture needles to release muscles that have

contracted and shortened due to distress. Dr. Chan Gunn developed IMS

in the 1970's while working for the Worker's Compensation Board of

British Columbia. He encountered many cases of myofascial pain

syndromes that did not respond to the modalities available to him at

that time. IMS is based on modern medical science and the

radiculopathic or neuropathic model of pain. Neuropathic pain is

caused by a malfunction in the peripheral nervous system that leads

to supersensitivity of the pain sensory system. It is often chronic

in nature and usually exhibits no obvious signs of injury or

inflammation making diagnosis through medical testing or imaging

unlikely.

Muscles that have shortened due to spasm and contracture may cause

mechanical pain from the pull and strain on tendons and joints and

compression and irritation of nerves. When nerves become irritated

they may become sensitized so that harmless signals are

misinterpreted as pain. The goal of IMS is to release the involved

shortened muscles and therefore decrease pain and desensitize

nerves. A trained practitioner of IMS, usually a physician or

physical therapist, conducts a thorough physical examination to

assess for physical signs of neuropathic pain. Treatment then

involves the use of acupuncture needles that can be inserted into the

centre of the involved muscles or near the spine where the irritated

and sensitive spinal nerve roots are located.

Alternative

The number of treatments for dry needling, either by acupuncture or

IMS, will vary with each person and condition. A few treatments may

be needed for acute problems, while one to two treatments a week for

several weeks may be needed for complex and chronic problems.

Acupuncture and IMS are safe and effective treatments of pain and

various conditions under a trained and competent practitioner who

uses sterile needles and equipment. Dry needling has been a

successful alternative to medications and even surgery. The World

Health Organization has even identified the benefits of acupuncture

for the treatment of a wide variety of musculoskeletal problems

including the following: headaches, osteoarthritis, low back pain,

sciatica, frozen shoulder, tennis elbows, neck problems, neuralgias,

and chronic pain.