Accurate palpation is essential before dry needling.

Dry needling is an excellent adjunct to Osteopathic treatment as it can help release tension in certain areas faster, leading to quicker treatment results.

It’s important to note that dry needling is not for everyone.

It depends on what you present with as to whether or not we think it may actually benefit you or not. Quite frankly – some of my standard Osteopathic techniques work better than their dry needling “equivalent” (in my experience). So it’s good to COMBINE them – as I do think you get better results.

If I do think that Dry needling may be of benefit to you, I discuss all the reasons why it could be of benefit, and only with your consent do I then test out a small area to gauge your response.

I say this because there are a certain group of the population that just cannot stomach the idea of needles!

The needles themselves are so incredibly small – that most people can’t feel them.

The objective of Dry needling:

The objective is to reduce an area of muscle tension that is associated with “trigger points” which can contribute to pain in regions other than where the problem is. This is sometimes known as “referred pain”.

When a dry needle is inserted into these trigger points, the result can be a release of tension or a “twitch response” which most people report as really helping with the overall pain related to that trigger point.

There can be mild discomfort associated with the treatment for up to 24 hours afterwards, but this is generally no different to manual therapy anyway – and really is person specific.

There are different forms of Dry needling.

1. Some types involve inserting multiple needles in multiple sites at the same time
2. Some involve “twisting” a needle when it’s in there
3. Some (lots) of practitioners don’t even use gloves…

My “style” of Dry needling is from “GEMT” – which I believe to be a world leader in the education of this approach.

When I apply a dry needle, it’s in for a reason, then OUT.

The needle NEVER stays in there unless I’m holding it.

Once I’ve got what I think is the desired outcome – the needle comes out & then I can go along with sorting out other structural issues you might have – whether they are directly related or not.

You still have to address the underlying cause of the original trigger point(s) – which may be initiated by any number of factors, however – the predominant cause I find is “postural”.

If dry needles are an ideal solution to your problem, it doesn’t mean that that’s the exact treatment you’ll get from me every time… You don’t use needles if there’s no “trigger point” to release. It makes no difference!

Hopefully thats’ enough information to get you started on either requesting dry needle treatment – or simply asking for more information about it.

Best Regards,

Chris

Just a little more information on who we are and what we do… A friend of mine came to Melbourne a few months back – and he happened to be pretty handy with a video camera & put this together for me! It’s short and to the point, as you’ll see.

Best Regards, Chris

Neck Pain Can Give You Headaches...

Neck discomfort is a very common issue, with two-thirds of the populace having neck stiffness at some specific point in their lives.

Neck stiffness, although felt in the neck, can be due to numerous other spinal problems. Neck discomfort may arise due to muscle tension in both the neck and upper back, or pinching of the nerves emanating from the cervical bones.

The head is supported by the entire neck and upper back, and it’s these areas that usually cause neck pain. The top 3 joints in the neck allow for most movement of your head and neck. The lower joints in the neck and those of the upper back create a supportive structure for your head to sit on. If this supportive system is affected adversely, then the muscles in the area will tighten, leading to neck pain.

Neck stiffness could also arise from lots of other health issues like deteriorative metastatic inflammation and osteophytes, illnesses, emotional and physical strains, and most commonly from referred pain from higher back Problems.

Unhealthy posture really plays havoc with your entire spine, not only your neck, and more frequently than not, poor neck posture could cause headaches by causing a variety of upper neck “compression”.

Although the particular causes are common most are simply fixed by either professional help such as an Osteopath or using self help advice and techniques.

The treatment of your neck stiffness truly is dependent upon the cause. For the vast majority of people, neck discomfort can be treated conservatively. Suggestions that may help deaden symptoms may include applying heat or cold. Other common treatments could include medication, exercise, and ergonomics.

Conservative treatment like exercise and joint mobilization and/or joint manipulation (spinal alteration) has been discovered to be beneficial in both acute and lingering mechanical neck disorders. Neither mobilization or manipulation with no exercising however has been revealed to be helpful (Mobilization is the same as manipulation). Ultrasound has been shown not to be efficacious.

The common thread here, is EXERCISE. Exercising is so significant, yet regularly over looked in a treatment plan!

Medicine/Analgesics like panadol or NSAIDs may also be recommended for pain in the short term.

Surgery is mostly not indicated for most mechanical causes of neck pain. If neck stiffness is the results of unsteadiness, cancer, or other disc illness process surgery might be mandatory. Surgery is generally not indicated for “pinched nerves” or herniated discs unless there is spinal cord compression or discomfort and disability have been protracted for many months and not respondent to conservative treatment like physical care.

About 10% of neck stiffness cases become persistent, but this is significantly eliminated by improving your posture – it is as easy as that.

We all get strained muscles now and then, but one of the main things is to recognise that you have got a problem, and see a medicare professional as quickly as you can, because they are able to help solve the problem now, and prevent it form coming back in future.