Physiology Behind Dry Needling

This article will discuss the physiology of dry needling as well as the formation of a muscle spasm.

Dry needling is the use of a thin, filiform needle, that is pierced
through the skin to target specific areas of injured tissue to aid in the
treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

What is a muscle spasm?

A muscle spasm also know as a myofascial trigger point is an area of hyper-irritability within a skeletal muscle. When palpated a myofascial trigger point will feel like a tight band or nodule.

How does a muscle spasm form?

A muscle spasm is formed from mechanical trauma from either:

• Internal trauma: from repetitive stress, such as poor posture or repetitive movement from sports.
• External trauma: An accident which will cause physical damage to the muscle fibers.

Mechanical trauma will cause damage to the muscle fibers, more specifically, the sarcomere of the muscle. The sarcomere is responsible for the creation of a muscle contraction. When the sarcomere is damaged there is a release of stored calcium from the muscle and a loss of energy which causes a sustained muscle contraction. A sustained muscle contraction causes the formation of tight muscular bands, muscular fatigue and hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Hypoxia results in chemicals such as bradykinin and prostaglandin to be released which causes pain.

Effect Dry Needling has on a muscle spasm

When inserting the needle into a myofascial trigger point you
will create a mechanical and chemical reaction which aids in the release of tension.

When the needle reaches the area of tension it will elicit a
local twitch response in the muscle which helps release the tension by:

• Disrupting the shortened, damaged sarcomeres and provides a stretch response, returning the sarcomere to its original resting length. This will cause an excess of energy consumption into the muscle.
• Chemicals build up in myofascial trigger points causing pain and a chemical imbalance. The twitch reaction balances the chemical levels within the muscle.
• The reaction also causes hyperemia (increased blood flow) into the muscle.

Have a look at what a twitch response looks like.

What is fanning?

• Once the needle is inserted into the muscle you can fan (move up and down) or wind the needle. The fanning elicits a further twitch response which activates a pain gate which blocks off pain signals from the myofascial trigger point.
• When you twist the needle, it helps straighten the collagen fiber bundles within the muscle.

Dry needling is an effective tool in aiding in the treatment of muscloskeletal conditions as it treats the cause of where your muscular pain is coming from.

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