Hein Viljoen
Physiotherapy
Sports injuries are an unfortunate reality for recreational and competitive athletes, often leading to time away from the activities they enjoy. Physiotherapists offer a range of treatments for pain relief and recovery, and one of the popular options is dry needling. This therapeutic technique offers many benefits for sports injury rehabilitation.
Dry needling is a technique in which a trained physiotherapist inserts fine, sterile needles into specific points in the muscle known as trigger points. These trigger points are often the source of muscle pain, tightness, and restricted movement that develop due to injuries, overuse, or imbalances. The term "dry" refers to the fact that no medication is injected. Instead, the needle itself stimulates healing and releases tension in the targeted muscle tissue.
While dry needling is similar in appearance to acupuncture, it differs in its approach and purpose. Dry needling is rooted in Western medicine, focusing specifically on treating musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, particularly in injured or overworked muscles.
Dry needling offers several benefits to athletes recovering from sports injuries. Here are the top ways it supports rehabilitation:
After a sports injury, muscles around the affected area often tighten in response to pain or to compensate for weakened muscles. This muscle tension can lead to further pain and limit movement, making it harder for the body to heal. Dry needling helps by relaxing these tight muscle fibers, releasing tension, and reducing pain levels. By addressing trigger points, dry needling can also help relieve referred pain (pain felt in areas other than the source) that is common with sports injuries.
When muscles are tight and painful, range of motion in the affected area is often limited, which can make it challenging for an athlete to get back to their full physical abilities. Dry needling can restore this range by loosening tight muscles and reducing restrictions caused by trigger points. For athletes, improved range of motion means they can resume training with greater ease.
Dry needling stimulates blood flow in the treated areas, promoting the body’s natural healing response. By improving circulation, dry needling delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to injured tissues, helping to repair damaged muscle fibers. This effect is particularly valuable for sports injuries, as improved blood flow leads to quicker recovery.
Some sports injuries, especially those involving muscles or tendons, can lead to the formation of scar tissue and adhesions, which can restrict movement and contribute to pain. Dry needling helps break down these adhesions, softening the scar tissue and restoring flexibility to the muscle. This is especially beneficial for athletes who may experience tightness in commonly affected areas like the shoulders, hamstrings, or calves.
Chronic sports injuries often lead individuals to rely on pain medications, which only offer temporary relief and can have side effects. Dry needling provides a non-pharmaceutical option for managing pain, helping athletes reduce their need for medication and focus on long-term recovery strategies.
By relieving pain and accelerating healing, dry needling enhances the overall effectiveness of a rehabilitation programme. When combined with other physiotherapy techniques, such as stretching, strengthening exercises, and manual therapy, dry needling can contribute to a faster, more complete recovery.
Dry needling is effective for a range of sports injuries, particularly those involving muscle pain and dysfunction. Some of the most common injuries treated with dry needling include:
During a dry needling session, the physiotherapist will assess your injury and locate any tight or painful areas in the muscle. They will then insert a thin, sterile needle into these areas, which may cause a brief twitch response in the muscle. You may experience mild soreness in the treated area for a day or two, but this typically fades quickly as the muscle relaxes.
It is important to follow any post-treatment advice from your physiotherapist, such as gentle stretching or hydration, to maximise the benefits of dry needling.
Dry needling is a safe and effective technique for most people, but it may not be suitable for everyone. If you are dealing with a chronic sports injury, speak to a qualified physiotherapist to see if dry needling could support your recovery.
Our expert team at Hein Viljoen Physiotherapy is happy to assist you in assessing your pain problem and applying dry needling if we deem it an effective. Contact us to book your appointment.
