Trigger-point dry needling is an invasive procedure where an acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin and muscle. It is aimed at myofascial trigger points (MTrP), which are hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band. These can cause pain, referred pain and interfere with the normal pattern of the muscles and effect the joints they work around often causing pain and discomfort and reduced range of motion and function.
Trigger points can be divided into Active and Latent myofascial trigger points.
Active trigger points can spontaneously trigger local or referred pain. They cause muscle weakness, restricted range of motion and autonomic phenomena.
Latent trigger points do not cause pain unless they are stimulated. They may alter muscle activation patterns and contribute to restricted range of motion.
Therefore, both active and latent trigger points cause a heightened awareness of pain at the trigger point site and increased pain away from the trigger point following applied pressure.
Dry needling is an effective treatment that deactivates these trigger points within the muscles and returns them to their normal state
