1. Is Dry Needling and Acupuncture the same? 

(a) Different principles

– Dry needling: It focuses on the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.

– Acupuncture: It follows the traditional Chinese concept of Qi, or the flow of energy, inside the body and helps with body healing.

(b) Different goals

– Dry needling: It aims to release tension from knots and pressure points in muscles where trigger points can be found.

– Acupuncture: It aims to balance the flow of energy or life force, known as Qi. 

(c) Similarity 

Both dry needling and acupuncture uses similar specific fine needles, however are unrelated beyond that.

2. Can I exercise after dry needling? 

– It is recommended to avoid strenuous or high impact activities immediately, for at least 24-48 hours after dry needling. This allows the body time to recover and maximize the treatment benefits. However, it is safe and advisable to stay active by performing light exercises such as walking and stretching. 

3. Is dry needling painful?

– It is generally pain-free. That being said, if there is a local twitch response elicited from the needle there may be a temporary feeling of pain. It is also common to feel muscle soreness for the first 24-48 hours post-needling.

4. Can I receive dry needling if I am pregnant?

– It is contraindicated to perform dry needling during the first trimester in pregnancy, but it can be performed safely and effectively during the second trimester onwards. Your practitioner might avoid certain regions for your safety. This includes the abdomen, lower back, hand and foot.

5. How often will I need treatment?

– Treatments are typically once a week to allow enough recovery time between sessions. The number of treatments you require will depend on your condition. 

6. Is the dry needling needle reusable?

No. Every needle is discarded after use. We may sometimes reuse dry needling needles on the same patient if they require more than one area needled.

7. Can I perform dry needling by myself?

No. You must be a qualified and registered healthcare practitioner (HCP) to practice dry needling. Dry needling is a treatment performed by skilled, trained physical therapists who are certified in the procedure. It may not be delegated to a physical therapist assistant or support personnel. 

We will first assess and examine your condition. Treatment options will then be provided to you after examination. Dry needling rarely is a standalone procedure and it is commonly incorporated with other treatment to maximise the treatment benefits.  

9. Are there any side effects? 

Temporary muscle soreness is the most common side effect after treatment. It typically lasts for a day or two. There are other less common side effects such as bruising. If you have any questions about additional side effects, do feel free to discuss them with your healthcare practitioner.

10. Am I a suitable candidate for dry needling?

You may not be an ideal candidate for dry needling if you display any of these characteristics or symptoms:

• Local infection

• Bleeding disorders (e.g. haemophilia) or if you are on anti-coagulants

• First trimester of pregnancy 

• Congenital or acquired heart valve disease

• Recent cardiac surgery

• Patients who may be immunocompromised such as those suffering from cancer, on chemo or recent radiotherapy

• Over areas of joint replacements (for up to 6 months), breast implants or cardiac pacemakers

• Following axillary (or inguinal) node dissection 

11. Is there anything I should do after a Dry Needling session?

Patients are advised to drink plenty of water, apply a heat pack on the muscles, or take a hot bath after the dry needling session to help reduce the soreness.

BOOK your dry needling session at Welo Chiro PJ via our website https://welochiro.com/booking/ and select Dr Dicky Chan as your practitioner!