Acupuncture & Dry Needling · Exeter
Acupuncture & dry needling are coming soon
Two closely related fine-needle treatments will be joining the clinic once training is complete. Here's what they are, how they feel, and who they tend to help.
What It Is
Very fine needles, very specific targets
Both treatments use extremely fine, sterile, single-use needles, nothing like the needles used for injections. The difference is in the approach.
Dry needling targets trigger points: those tight, tender knots in a muscle that ache, refer pain elsewhere and refuse to release with stretching alone. Placing a needle directly into the trigger point helps the muscle relax and can ease pain in the surrounding area.
Acupuncture, as used in physiotherapy, works on the same principles of anatomy and pain science. Needles are placed at specific points to help ease pain and muscle tension as part of a wider, evidence-based treatment plan.
At this clinic, both will be tools within physiotherapy rather than standalone therapies: used alongside hands-on treatment and rehab where they genuinely fit.
Who It Helps
When needling earns its place
Needling tends to help where muscles are doing too much for too long: tight necks and shoulders, gripping backs, overworked calves and forearms, and the deep trigger points that massage can struggle to reach. Many people find it takes the edge off persistent muscular pain and helps restore movement faster when combined with rehab.
It isn't right for everyone or everything, and I'll always say so when it isn't. If it's suitable for you, it will be discussed and agreed as part of your treatment, never sprung on you mid-session.
What To Expect
Honestly, does it hurt?
Far less than people expect. The needles are so fine that most people barely feel them go in. You might feel a brief, dull ache or a small muscle twitch at a trigger point; that twitch is usually a sign the right spot has been found. Many people feel a pleasant heaviness in the muscle afterwards, and some mild soreness the next day is normal, much like after a firm massage.
Once live, needling will be offered within physiotherapy appointments where it fits your treatment plan. This page will be updated the moment it's available. In the meantime, if you'd like to know whether it might help what you're dealing with, message @d.b_physio on Instagram or mention it at your next appointment.