Acupuncture & Dry Needling

Trigger point therapy is a technique of acupuncture that is frequently used for pain relief, muscle weakness, spasms, stiffness or mobility issues. It targets and stimulates sensitive, tender points, or trigger points, in muscle fibers and connective tissues. The manual manipulation of the acupuncture needle can “break up” painful knots and can be incredibility effective in reducing or eliminating pain or inflammation.

Trigger point therapy is rooted in acupuncture and Eastern medicine and has treated pain and muscular conditions in Asian countries for centuries. Licensed acupuncturists attend 4 year Master’s level schools and receive specialized training in the use and safety of needling for trigger point therapy, orthopedic acupuncture and many other health conditions. Licensed acupuncturists are highly trained, qualified experts in needling methods, anatomy, muscle physiology, orthopedics, and neurology.

The term “dry” needling became popular in the United States around the 1940s, when physicians used hypodermic needles that were not injected with any medication or solution (dry), to mimic the techniques of acupuncture trigger point therapy. Acupuncture trigger point therapy is still referred to as “dry” needling, even though the term can cause confusion. In some states, it is illegal for practitioners that are not licensed acupuncturists to perform acupuncture trigger point therapy, or “dry” needling. In Louisiana, practitioners that are not licensed in acupuncture may take a short weekend course to obtain a certificate in treating trigger points using acupuncture needles, but their knowledge and training of acupuncture needle techniques may be very limited when compared to licensed acupuncturists.