What is the difference between acupuncture and dry needling? 

Hi Eppy, I practice both and teach both methods. If it is primarily trigger points that are being treated and depending upon your condition that is being treated then dry needling may be better. I can not comment on your underlying condition as to which would be the best approach. As I mentioned for best results acupuncture and dry needling should be used in combination. However, if you have a muscle tear, muscle weakness, exacerbation of pain due anxiety etc then selective acupuncture points would far out perform dry needling.

@@sbacupuncturecpdtraining I would love to see a video of you performing dry needling. There is only one way to dry needle. Estim is not dry needling Laying on a bed with needles in situte is not dry needling There's really only one way to dry needle Dry needling is used to inactivate myofascial trigger points. Trigger points are identifiable by a physical and mechanical assesment. From there palpating for taut bands in skeletal muscle using fingers. Palpating using finger tips are the gold standard for identifying trigger points. It's more easily identifiable by the patients pain complaint upon palpation due the exquisite tenderness. Once the taut band or bands are identified the clinician isolates the trigger point and begins pistoning to illicit AS MANY TWITCHES AS POSSIBLE until the trigger point is resolved. It may take several treatments for an effected area. Any other method is not dry needling. Dry needling is the most effective way to treat active myofascial trigger points. From a pain science perspective, trigger points are constant sources of peripheral nociceptive input leading to peripheral and central sensitization. Dry needling cannot only reverse some aspects of central sensitization, it reduces local and referred pain, improves range of motion and muscle activation pattern, and alters the chemical environment of trigger points. You have a vested interest in acupuncture because it is part of your livelihood. I have a vested interest in getting out if pain and restoring normal muscular and central nervous system function. I would love to see some videos of what you would call dry needling. I'm 99% certain it is not really dry needling Cheers mate

Hi Eppy, I am fully aware of dry needling techniques. I have published a book which extensively present research evidence in the use of dry needling. I have undertaken numerous research in this field and published a number of articles combining the use of dry needling. It is very effective when used properly and for the appropriate conditions. But it has limitations when compared with using classical acupuncture points which can address active and latent triggers if you choose your points wisely. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying dry needling isn’t any good it is an excellent treatment modality which I also use successfully.

@@eppystein2953 You need to look up the term dry needling as it don’t just refer to the treatment of myofascial trigger points.

@@sbacupuncturecpdtraining This it's what dry needling looks like ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PXuDYmH3A2Q.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PXuDYmH3A2Q.html