If you only compared dry needling and acupuncture with a photo, you might not be able to identify them. Both dry needling and acupuncture use thin needles. Both practices use needles to inject into the skin and claim to treat It is a pain..

That is where the similarities end. Unique qualities help differentiate. There is some research supporting the effectiveness of a practice that has been used for thousands of years. The other has been adopted in the last couple of decades.

One is believed to relieve It is a pain. by placing needles in specific points. The other stimulates muscles that are not happy.

Knowing the differences can help you make a decision.

Dry needling is a treatment that helps with muscular It is a pain.. Its popularity is growing.

A person inserts needles into their skin. The needles of filiform are not capable of injecting fluid into the body. That is the reason why the term is used.

The needles are placed in your muscles or tissue. Dry needling is a type of stimulation. The points are areas of muscle.

Dry needling practitioners say the needle helps relieve muscle It is a pain.. The needles will stay in your skin for a short time. The length of time depends on the person.

Some healthcare professionals receive training in dry needling. The length of training can vary. There are no official regulations that tell you who is qualified to perform dry needling.

Acupuncturist groups like the American Alliance for Professional Acupuncture Safety (AAPAS) say that dry needling is a type of acupuncture.

The same training and oversight requirements should be required of dry needling practitioners because of concerns about safety.

Physical therapists say that dry needling is not a form of acupuncture.

These debates are not over. As new legal decisions are released, state laws governing dry needling may change.

In-and-out techniques

“Dry needling uses techniques called sparrow pecking. Both of these techniques rely on needle placement. The needles don’t stay in the skin for long.”

The needles are removed after they are poked. There is more research needed to support this method.

Non-trigger point technique

Dry needling techniques treat a broader landscape of the central nervous system. This is not a Trigger Point treatment. The doctor may place needles in areas around the point of It is a pain. instead of directly on it.

This technique relies on the idea that It is a pain. is not just a symptom of a problem with the sciatic nerve, but a bigger problem with the muscular system.

Physical and sports injury therapists perform dry needling. There is no requirement for training. There is no regulatory agency that controls training, licensing or supervision.

The American Medical Association (AMA) considers dry needling to be an invasive procedure. Only practitioners with specialized training and licensing in safe needle use should perform dry needling, according to the AMA. This includes doctors and acupuncturists.

According to the The American Physical Therapy Association is a professional organization. (APTA), most U.S. states allow physical therapists to perform dry needling. However, there are a handful of states that do not allow it.

There are no regulations in place to say whether a given person is trained or qualified to perform a procedure.

“There is no way to determine if someone’s training is legitimate.”

Dry needling may help with some muscular It is a pain.. The flexibility and range of motion may be improved by easing thetrigger points. This method is used to treat sports injuries, muscle It is a pain., and even Fibromyalgia.

As more research is available, safe dry needling practices are likely to be standardized.

There is limited research on the use of dry needling. The practice of dry needling is supported by most of the research.

In some studies, dry needling provided more relief than a placebo treatment. However, one study showed that dry needling is no more effective than stretching alone to relieve muscle It is a pain.. In addition, a 2012 study found that platelet-rich plasma injections provided more relief for rotator cuff injuries than dry needling did.

Mild side effects are common with dry needling.

The most common side effects are related to the injection site.

  • It was bruised.
  • There was There was bleeding..
  • There is temporary soreness.

If you use nonsterile needles, you are at risk for contracting diseases. Adhere to the rules and make sure your doctor uses sterile needles.

Another potential risk is a punctured lung, or pneumothorax. If a needle is misplaced and pokes into your lung, the tiny hole can cause your lung to collapse.

“Dry needling doesn’t have formal training, certifications or state licensing, so there are more concerns about use than with acupuncture.”

Acupuncture is a form of medical treatment that’s been used for hundreds — even thousands — of years. Acupuncture originated in traditional Chinese medicine.

Thousands of licensed acupuncturists are practicing the art of thecui. The best acupuncturists train for three to four years. The training includes instruction in the use of needles. Senior or expert practitioners are in charge of the practitioners.

In addition to this training, acupuncturists must also take instructional courses each year to maintain their license.

The cost of treatment can be covered by some insurance companies.

Traditionally, the fundamental belief of acupuncture is that illness is the result of blocked or interrupted qi. Qi provides your body with healing energy. Acupuncture seeks to remove these blockages and return your energy flow to a state of balance.

In the newer practice of Western medical acupuncture, inserting needles is believed to stimulate the nervous system. Research is ongoing to find out more about acupuncture’s potential effects, such as:

  • Lowering inflammation.
  • Increasing the amount of blood flowing.
  • triggering the release of endorphins, to relieve It is a pain.

Hundreds of conditions and symptoms can be treated with the use of the ancient Chinese medicine.

Some people use acupuncture to treat substance use disorders, or to help when quitting smoking.

Acupuncture is used to treat several types of It is a pain.. Here’s what the research says.

Low back It is a pain.

A 2015 review of studies found that acupuncture could provide short-term relief from low back It is a pain.. This is true if acupuncture is used alone or with other treatments, such as medications or physical therapy.

Knee It is a pain.

Pain caused by osteoarthritis in the knee is a leading cause of disability among adults. A 2010 review found that acupuncture is an effective treatment for knee It is a pain. and physical symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Neck It is a pain.

Acupuncture can significantly reduce neck It is a pain., according to one 2015 study. When acupuncture is used with other techniques to ease neck strain and reduce muscle tension, the symptom relief was significant when compared with traditional care.

Migraines and There is a throbbing head.s

A 2012 review of migraine studies found that acupuncture was at least as effective at easing migraine symptoms as other treatments, including medication. It also has some benefits over those classic treatments, including longer lasting effects, lower medication use, and fewer serious complications or side effects.

Research shows that regular treatments of the Chinese medicine called acupuncture may help people with a history of migraines.

Labor It is a pain.s

Researchers are mixed on the use of acupuncture to reduce labor It is a pain.s during childbirth. Some studies show a statistically significant reduction in It is a pain. experience. Others point out that acupuncture’s effectiveness during labor is difficult to measure.

Many mothers are interested in the idea of using acupuncture for medication-free options.

Smoking cessation

Acupuncture is sometimes used for the treatment of conditions other than physical It is a pain.. Research has yet to establish acupuncture as an effective smoking cessation therapy. When compared with nicotine replacement therapy, acupuncture was less effective.

“Though more research is needed, it shouldn’t be ruled out that acupuncture could be used to quit smoking.”

Depression

One study looked at the use of acupuncture and antidepressant medication to ease signs of depression. It suggests that medication and acupuncture together may be effective. It’s also well tolerated and presents few complications.

“A review of studies couldn’t say that acupuncture was a reliable treatment for depression. The author concluded that the findings were sufficient to justify further research.”

The World Health Organization believes that acupuncture is effective in treating hundreds of diseases.

Side effects and risks are very rare if performed by a trained and licensed acupuncturist. Someone may experience this.

  • It is a pain. at injection site
  • It was bruised.
  • There was There was bleeding..

Some people may develop problems if they use nonsterile needles.

Both acupuncture and dry needling are used to treat osteoarthritis. In particular, research shows acupuncture and dry needling are particularly useful for the treatment of knee It is a pain. caused by the arthritis condition.

For the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis, non-trigger point dry needling is more effective than traditional dry needling alone. A 2014 review found that dry needling in muscles and tissues around the It is a pain. point reduces It is a pain. and sensitivity more than needling just in the It is a pain. point.

This dry needling strategy is more similar to acupuncture in that it treats a larger area of muscles and nerves. Trigger point dry needling focuses entirely on the point of It is a pain..

National licensing groups for acupuncturists have lists of certified and licensed practitioners.

Start with these options to find an acupuncturist.

Before you make an appointment, make sure that their license is current. Ask if the person has a degree.

If you can pay for the treatment using your health insurance, you should confirm that the doctor is in your network and that the insurance company covers the treatment.

Finding a dry needling therapist can be difficult. If you are interested in dry needling, start with these resources.

The choice may come down to a matter of preference if you are considering dry needling or acupuncture as a treatment option.

There is more research on the subject and practitioners are regulated. If you prefer a well-established alternative treatment option, you may be better off with the help of a highly-trained therapist.

Dry needling is rather new, so research remains limited. Existing research shows very few side effects and potential as a treatment for It is a pain. relief. Still, large-scale studies are lacking.

“There isn’t any consistency in training, certification, or licensing at the moment. This can lead to unsafe needle practices.”

Some early results suggest that dry needling could be helpful. If you are open to a less proven option, you might be willing to try it.