No. Although both techniques use fine needles, dry needling and traditional acupuncture come from different clinical approaches. Dry needling is generally used within musculoskeletal treatment to target specific muscles and soft tissues identified during assessment. At Health Point Practice, practitioners have postgraduate training in Medical Dry Needling and use it within an osteopathic treatment plan where appropriate.

You may feel very little as the needle enters the skin, although treatment of a sensitive muscle can produce a brief ache, twitch or pressure sensation. Comfort varies between people and treatment areas. Your practitioner will explain the technique beforehand and can stop or adapt treatment if you are uncomfortable.

There is no universal timeframe. Some patients notice changes after an appointment, while others need treatment alongside exercise or rehabilitation over a longer period. The likely timeframe depends on factors including the condition, how long symptoms have been present and the activities contributing to the problem.

Dry needling should be performed by an appropriately trained practitioner following a clinical assessment. Your osteopath will review relevant medical history and discuss whether there are reasons the technique may not be suitable for you before treatment begins.

It may form part of treatment for some sports-related muscular or tendon problems, but suitability depends on the injury. Health Point Practice works with active patients and combines treatment with rehabilitation advice where appropriate rather than relying on needling alone.