In the fields of beauty, fitness, and healthcare, the use of needles has a variety of uses, and are backed by a number of claims. Some practitioners will claim it can cause you to relax, while others will use it to help treat an injury. Although going by a number of different names including dry needling and acupuncture, the technique is generally the same. Although the qualifications of practitioners vary greatly, the evidence behind the ‘skill level’ required isn’t very strong.

‘I’ve just had an acute injury’

If you’ve had an acute injury like a hamstring tear, or you’ve hurt your back, it is normally to immediately assume the worst. Do I need surgery? Should I get a scan? When can I ever get back to my sport? How can I help this unbearable pain? In most cases, it makes sense to get an injury assessed by someone, whether that is a physio, GP, osteopath, or other professional. The assessment of an injury by a trained clinician can rule out sinister signs that may require onward referral to imaging or a surgical specialist, but can also get you on the path to recovery quicker than just waiting for mother nature to do its job. The use of dry needling in acute injuries can help certain individuals, but only in certain cases. The use of needles placed into muscles can help a painful muscle to relax and change pain levels, but it should be combined with an active approach. If you have has a significant musculoskeletal injury and your physio gets you to lie down for 10 sessions of acupuncture without any rehab, then there’s a big problem there.

‘I have had back pain for 10 years’

People with longstanding pain (some may cal it chronic) should seek active treatment involving rehab and lifestyle changes before they consider acupuncture or dry needling. If you have had longstanding pain, then it is unlikely that the use of passive modalities like needles or massage will have any effect other than very short term. However, people with longstanding pain are often the most likely people to be sold passive treatments like acupuncture and massage as they have had pain for so long, and are usually more desperate to get relief than those who have an acute injury. The use of acupuncture in patients with longstanding is often beneficial to reduce pain levels to engage in rehab, but similarly to acute cases, active rehab will have the most profound long-term effect on your recovery.

If you have any questions on whether physio is the best option for you, or you have any questions about MVMNT in general, feel free to contact via email.

- Jay Towolawi, Specialist Sports Physiotherapist and MVMNT Founder.