ACUPUNCTURE vs DRY NEEDLING
As a physical therapy acupuncture has a prodigious history - its complex theoretical framework was established at least 1500 years before the development of osteopathy or physiotherapy.
Over the last 30 years it has gained popularity in the West as an effective treatment for a range of muscle and joint problems, and been adapted into modern therapies as a technique to stimulate “trigger points”. In some countries such as the UK, acupuncture has been popularised by its widespread use by physiotherapists.
In Australia, courses have long been developed for qualified chiropractors, osteopaths, physios and the like to learn acupuncture techniques specifically for musculoskeletal problems. Originally referred to as Trigger Point Stimulation, Dry Needling is a term that has developed over the past 10 years to differentiate it from traditional Acupuncture.
Like acupuncture, dry needling utilizes acupuncture needles to stimulate trigger points in muscles and fascia. Dry needling is applied to tender or tight points in muscle - so called trigger points - with manipulating techniques used to reduce pain or calm muscle-spasm. Acupuncturists also use tender points, but the focus is on points selected along specific interconnecting channels.
Acupuncture points are themselves often tender, and according to various studies the correlation between trigger points and acupuncture points is between 70-80%.
The main reason behind the differentiation between acupuncture and dry needling is a legal one. Since 2001 in Victoria (and last year nationally) the term Acupuncture has been restricted to be used only by registered Chinese Medicine practitioners. So, Dry Needling is basically Acupuncture, but it can only be called Acupuncture if it’s done by a qualified acupuncturist.
In brief, Chinese Medicine practitioners use acupuncture to treat muscular problems in the context of Chinese Medicine diagnostics and channel theory. Myotherapists, physios etc. use dry needling as an adjunct to their various treatment protocols
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As a physical therapy acupuncture has a prodigious history - its complex theoretical framework was established at least 1500 years before the development of osteopathy or physiotherapy.
Over the last 30 years it has gained popularity in the West as an effective treatment for a range of muscle and joint problems, and been adapted into modern therapies as a technique to stimulate “trigger points”. In some countries such as the UK, acupuncture has been popularised by its widespread use by physiotherapists.
In Australia, courses have long been developed for qualified chiropractors, osteopaths, physios and the like to learn acupuncture techniques specifically for musculoskeletal problems. Originally referred to as Trigger Point Stimulation, Dry Needling is a term that has developed over the past 10 years to differentiate it from traditional Acupuncture.
Like acupuncture, dry needling utilizes acupuncture needles to stimulate trigger points in muscles and fascia. Dry needling is applied to tender or tight points in muscle - so called trigger points - with manipulating techniques used to reduce pain or calm muscle-spasm. Acupuncturists also use tender points, but the focus is on points selected along specific interconnecting channels.
Acupuncture points are themselves often tender, and according to various studies the correlation between trigger points and acupuncture points is between 70-80%.
The main reason behind the differentiation between acupuncture and dry needling is a legal one. Since 2001 in Victoria (and last year nationally) the term Acupuncture has been restricted to be used only by registered Chinese Medicine practitioners. So, Dry Needling is basically Acupuncture, but it can only be called Acupuncture if it’s done by a qualified acupuncturist.
In brief, Chinese Medicine practitioners use acupuncture to treat muscular problems in the context of Chinese Medicine diagnostics and channel theory. Myotherapists, physios etc. use dry needling as an adjunct to their various treatment protocols
Back to Articles