Acupuncture or dry needling: what is the difference?
4 minute read. Written by the Back in Health team, Kelowna.
In short
Acupuncture and dry needling both use fine, single-use needles. Acupuncture is a whole system of assessment and point selection, delivered in BC by registered acupuncturists. Dry needling, sometimes called intramuscular needling, targets tight bands and trigger points in muscle and is used by physiotherapists with extra training, usually as one part of a physio treatment rather than the whole visit.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture in BC is a regulated profession. A registered acupuncturist takes a full history and selects points based on that assessment, which may be near the area of complaint or elsewhere. Needles usually stay in for a while as you rest. Orthopaedic acupuncture is a style that focuses on pain and injury, combining motor point needling with manual therapy.
Dry needling
Dry needling is a technique rather than a profession. Physiotherapists who have done additional training use it to target specific muscles, often with a brief local twitch, and then carry on with exercise and hands-on work in the same session. It is called dry because nothing is injected.
Which should you book?
If you want needling to be the main event, or you are interested in acupuncture for reasons beyond muscle and joint pain, book a registered acupuncturist. If you are already seeing a physiotherapist for an injury and needling might help as part of that plan, ask them about it.
Either way, mention blood thinners, pregnancy, a needle phobia or a history of fainting when you book, and eat something beforehand.
At Back in Health
Acupuncture is at our Glenmore clinic, with registered acupuncturists including orthopaedic acupuncture. A first visit is 60 minutes and $140, with follow-ups at $115 for 45 minutes or $140 for 60. One of our physiotherapists at Kirschner has additional training in needling techniques; ask when you book physiotherapy if you are interested.
Book registered acupuncture in Kelowna at our Glenmore clinic.
General information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. If something is getting worse, or you are unsure whether it is right for you, speak to a clinician.