The western acupuncture/ dry needling is a non-traditional approach, and is based on the modern scientific understanding of anatomy and physiology. It therefore builds on the health practitioners existing knowledge.
The principal differences between the traditional and modern theories can be summarized as follows.
| TRADITIONAL |
MODERN |
| Follows rules laid down in the past |
Largely ignores the old rules |
| Based on pre-scientific ideas |
Based on modern anatomy and physiology |
Practical rather than mystical but
appeals to Westerners interested in mysticism |
No element of mysticism |
This form of acupuncture is predominantly used in musculo-skeletal symptoms. Such as tennis and golfers elbow, piriformis syndrome, it can be used in the treatment of trigger points and myo-fascial pain.
A myo-fascial trigger point consists of multiple contraction knots. These are related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle. After using dry needling as a treatment, the muscle which has been treated tends to feel much more relaxed with a reduction of pain.
