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Myotherapists train extensively in a technique called Dry Needling. Dry needling is a therapeutic technique that has gained popularity in recent years as a powerful tool for relieving musculoskeletal pain, restoring mobility and promoting overall wellness. Its an advanced treatment technique that involves inserting very thin, sterile needles into specific muscles in the body to induce a rapid change in muscle tension. Often the target of dry needling is a trigger point within a muscle. These trigger points are tight bands within the muscle tissue that can cause pain, discomfort, and limited range of motion when they become overly contracted or dysfunctional.  The primary goal of dry needling is to alter the muscle tension and promote the natural healing processes of the body. Often this technique can elicit a twitch response from the muscle, causing it to contract and then relax, which is felt as a sudden, involuntary muscle twitch. This contraction and relaxation help to release tension and improve blood flow to the area, which can accelerate the healing process. Its usually not painful, but can be surprising to patients. Some practitioners will use a more stimulating technique to specifically seek out the twitch response which can be highly beneficial, especially for patients who have extreme tightness and pain. For patients who don’t feel comfortable with a very stimulating approach, a gentler technique of positioning and resting needles can also be used with good effect. The type of techniques used really depends on the patient and how their body responds - we see many patients whose bodies are very sensitive to needling and get amazing results from very low stimulation; and we also see many patients who prefer to really “feel it” by experiencing significant twitch responses. Theres no right or wrong way to do it, its always tailored to the individual being treated.
Dry needling can be particularly effective in treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including chronic pain, muscle stiffness, joint pain, and even some neurological conditions. It is commonly used to address issues such as neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, and headaches, among others. Athletes and sports players tend to get very good results from dry needling. A gentler approach to dry needling can also be really effective in situations where the pain is so severe that its not tolerable to apply pressure using other myotherapy techniques like massage or joint mobilisation. One of the key advantages of dry needling is its minimally invasive nature. The needles used in this technique are extremely thin, and patients typically experience minimal discomfort during the procedure. Often a pin prick sensation is felt as the needle punctures the skin, and then patients are surprised by how minimal the discomfort of the treatment is. Many patients report immediate relief and improved mobility after a session. Like with any technique where skin is being punctured, there are risks associated with dry needling. Our consent form for treatment provides information on the risks, including things like small bleeds, post needling soreness, and pneumothorax. Its important to know that while risks like pneumothorax (punctured lung) are serious, when you receive dry needling from a qualified therapist the risk is very low due to the extent of the practitioners training and experience. Because of these risks, dry needling should only be performed by trained and qualified practitioners. Our clinic only allows Myotherapists to provide dry needling, because dry needling is included as core curriculum in all Myotherapy training programs. This means your myotherapist has had to study for 6+ months under close supervision and pass exams in order to become qualified. There are short course 2-3 day programs available for therapists to become registered to provide dry needling, which is why you may find remedial massage therapists, physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths who offer dry needling. These practitioners only get a very short amount of time to learn and practice in their weekend course before they begin offering dry needling to patients. Want to give dry needling a go? Book online and make sure to pick one of our 5 Myotherapists as your practitioner. By Rachael Bird, Myotherapist Myotherapy is a type of physical therapy that focuses on the assessment, treatment, and management of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. This means your favourite Myotherapist primarily targets soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia, to alleviate your pain and improve overall function. We have a variety of advanced techniques that can be used to calm down painful areas, reduce strain on injured muscles and joints, activate weak muscles and rebuild strength and stability. Our treatments include hands on massage and myofascial techniques; dry needling; cupping; MET (muscle energy technique); joint mobilisations; stretching; taping; prescribing exercises to restore muscle balance and strength; providing education and home care advice on how to give your body the best opportunity at recovering.  Myotherapists are goal oriented healthcare professionals - that means that we carefully plan our treatment for your pain based on the outcomes we want to help you achieve. We can help you in the following way
Pain Reduction:
By Jacqui Mulholland, Remedial Massage Therapist You might have heard of this relatively new slang term called “tech neck” which is becoming more and more common to see in the media. Tech Neck refers to a group of symptoms characterised by neck tightness and tension caused by chronic overuse of the neck muscles that are working overtime to keep your head upright. Neck, shoulder and upper back tension and pain are some of the most common issues that our team treat every day, so if you're experiencing this pain, you're not alone, and there are plenty of ways we can help bring relief to your symptoms.  What are the symptoms?
You could be experiencing Tech Neck if you have noticed some of the following symptoms;
If you have any of these symptoms and are using a screen regularly, this can be one possible cause for the discomfort you are experiencing. Tech has become an essential part of our daily lives and whether we like it or not, it’s here to stay. So we need to understand what this is doing to our body’s and how we can help prevent long term damage and support a healthier spine. The human head weighs about 5kgs, and all of that weight is being supported by our postural muscles of the neck, chest and upper back. The neck muscles are supporting most of that weight. When you are looking down at your screen, these neck muscles engage to stabilise your head for you. Being in this forward flexed position for prolonged periods of time just adds to the amount of stress being placed onto these muscles and eventually, they will become tired, tight and sore. Overtime, without treatment this can lead to more complex neck, upper back and shoulder conditions affecting mobility, functioning and quality of life. It can also lead to fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbance, frustration and reduced productivity. Fortunately before it gets to this stage you have a really effective, accessible and non-invasive treatment method to manage these symptoms naturally. Massage and Myotherapy work to free up and loosen these affected neck muscles. Regular treatments help to prevent ongoing issues arising as a result of overuse of screens. Our therapists will also advise you on easy, affordable and time-wise prevention strategies you can use at home in between treatments to alleviate your pain and increase the effectiveness of our treatments. Prevention What can you do at home to help prevent Tech Neck becoming an issue for you?
Keeping up with some of these simple preventative measures at home can help reduce the frequency of and intensity of your symptoms. If you are unsure whether your symptoms are as a result of Tech Neck or some other condition, it is always best to visit your primary health care provider to eliminate other potential causes. With some regular Massage and Myotherapy treatments, Tech Neck can be well managed and we can give you some specific advice including home care & exercises to maintain the health and integrity of your neck muscles. Make a booking with one of us at Simple Wellness and we will assess your symptoms and provide a customised treatment plan to get you the best results for your Tech Neck. |
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Simple Wellness Myotherapy & Osteopathy
Shop 12B/150 Kelletts Rd, Rowville VIC 3178 |
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(03) 8204 0970 |
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