Dry Needling at Focus Osteopathy
Dry needling involves inserting fine, sterile needles into tight bands of muscle. It is called dry needling because nothing is injected, which is what separates it from the injections you might have at a GP.
Our practitioners at our Murrumbeena and Mount Waverley clinics use dry needling as one technique within a broader treatment, usually alongside hands-on work and exercise. If the needles are the part making you hesitate, that is worth raising at your appointment rather than ruling it out, as the sensation is vastly different from traditional needles.
When Dry Needling May Form Part of Your Overall Treatment
How Dry Needling Works
Your practitioner locates the tight, tender band within the muscle by hand, then inserts a fine single use needle into it. The needle is much thinner than one used for injections, and many people find the insertion itself painless or without sensation at all.
You may notice a brief twitch response in the muscle, or a dull ache in the area once the needle is in place. Needles may stay in place for a short period or be removed straight away, depending on the objective of your treatment and how you respond.
Dry needling may help with muscle tightness and associated discomfort for some people, though responses vary. It is generally used alongside other treatments rather than on its own, and your practitioner will explain what they are doing before starting.
What to Know Before Your First Session
Four things worth understanding beforehand.
Consent Comes First
Nothing happens without your agreement. Your practitioner explains the technique and answers your questions before any needles are used.
Tell Them About Your Health History
Dry needling is not appropriate in some circumstances, including pregnancy, bleeding disorders and blood thinning medication, so mention anything relevant.
Mild Soreness Afterwards Is Common
Some people feel a dull ache in the area for a day or so, similar to how muscles feel after a heavy session.
You Can Stop at Any Point
If you find it uncomfortable, say so. The technique can be adjusted or set aside in favour of something else.
Why Have Dry Needling at Focus Osteopathy?
It Follows a Proper Assessment
Your practitioner assesses how you are moving and what is driving the problem before deciding whether needling is appropriate.
It Is One Part of a Wider Plan
Needling sits alongside hands on treatment, movement advice and exercise, so the tight muscle is addressed along with what caused it to tighten.
Delivered by Qualified Practitioners
Dry needling at Focus Osteopathy is performed by university trained practitioners with additional training in the technique.
Single Use, Sterile Needles
Needles are single use and disposed of after every application, in line with standard infection control practice.
You Stay in Control of the Session
Nothing proceeds without your consent, and the approach is adjusted based on your feedback throughout.
You Leave Understanding What Happened
Your practitioner explains what was treated, why, and what to expect over the next day or two.
The Focus Osteo Process in Murrumbeena & Mt Waverley
There’s a reason our patients don’t keep coming back for the same problem. We don’t just chase symptoms, we find what’s causing your pain and address the root cause of your discomfort.
We listen & assess
We hear your story and assess thoroughly to find the true cause of your pain, not just where it hurts.
We explain it clearly
No jargon. We show you what's happening and why, so you feel confident in the plan ahead.
We treat the cause
Hands on osteopathy tailored to you, targeting the source of your discomfort to live & feel better.
We keep you moving
A simple strength and mobility plan stops the problem returning, so you stay active for the long run.
Find Out if Osteopathy Is Right for You
Choosing an osteopath is an important decision. That’s why we offer a free, no-obligation discovery session, giving you the opportunity to meet our team, discuss your concerns, and ask any questions before deciding if we’re the right fit for you.
* Note: there is no treatment given at one of our free discovery session. It’s for you to ask us more questions and for us to confirm whether or not we think we can help you. Refer to the ‘Terms and Conditions‘ page for more detail.
Ready to book your appointment?
Online bookings are available for your convenience. Please note – if you can’t find a suitable appointment time, please contact our clinic and our team will be happy to help arrange a time that works for you.
focus Osteopathy Services
Osteopathy may be appropriate for a range of musculoskeletal concerns. Explore some of the common conditions our osteopaths assess and manage below.
FAQs about dry needling
A thin-filament needle is inserted directly into the middle of a your tight muscle, at a “trigger point”. We jiggle the needle up and down until your muscle responds with a sudden movement, which may feel like a “twitch”.
Usually the tighter the knots, the more “twitches” we may need to get to loosen and relax your muscle. When this happens you’ll physically feel a softening of the muscle.
The purpose of this twitch is to get your muscle out of the habit of spasming – to break up the knots that are making your muscles tight.
As both acupuncture and dry needling involve needles, people are often confused about the difference.
Dry needling uses similar sized needles similar as used for acupuncture. But unlike acupuncture, dry needling is not a traditional Chinese medicine technique.
Traditional Chinese medicine is based on treating “energetic pathways”. So needles are inserted into the “energetic pathways”.
Dry needling is a Western medicine treatment. Practitioners insert needles directly into the muscles and nerve pathways causing the pain.
It can work in the 1 session – or it may take a few more sessions. As with any other treatment, it depends on a few things such as:
- How long you’ve had your problem
- The extent of your problem
- How quickly your body can heal
- Whether there are any situations that might cause you to have a negative response to Dry Needling (we’ll find out before your session).
Dry needling can only be done by a qualified practitioner who has formally studied – and has practiced the skills needed to safely treat you.
What’s more, we combine dry needling with other osteopathy techniques.
Generally, people with deep knots are more likely to find dry needling painful.
However, as with any treatment, your response to dry needling may be different from other people.
Generally people feel muscle soreness after treatment for a day or two. We’ll give you instructions on how to minimise this. Some people don’t feel any soreness.
Bruising may also occur – this is much less common.
Note that like any treatment, side effects are very individual. Please contact us if you have any questions about possible side effects for you.
Every person’s situation is different and dry needling may – or may not work for everyone.
Note that although there’s no conclusive research about dry needling, people we’ve treated in our clinics have had great results in relieving their pain. That’s because we combine dry needling (no conclusive evidence) with remedial massage therapy and osteopathy manual techniques which are based on quality research and evidence.