Ep. 062 | Poking into Pain: A Deep Dive into Dry Needling | Barbara Cagnie

In this podcast episode, Barbara Cagnie, a physiotherapist and manual therapist, discusses the topic of dry needling, providing valuable insights into its definition, physiological effects, and clinical applications. Dry needling is described as a technique used by physiotherapists to treat myofascial pain, with the insertion of thin filiform needles into specific trigger points aiming to reduce pain and restore muscle function. Barbara highlights the physiological basis of dry needling, emphasizing its effects on peripheral and central systems, as well as its potential impact on pain and inflammation. The discussion delves into the differences between active and latent trigger points, reliability in identifying trigger points, and the mechanism of referred pain. Barbara also addresses the evidence supporting the efficacy of dry needling in various musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in neck pain, highlighting the need for ongoing research to further explore its clinical applications. The conversation touches on the contraindications and potential risks of dry needling, emphasizing the importance of proper training and anatomical knowledge to minimize adverse events. The future of dry needling is also considered, with mentions of ultrasound-guided and electrical dry needling techniques. Barbara's expertise and comprehensive explanations serve to demystify dry needling and shed light on its clinical relevance. Her insights not only provide valuable information for physiotherapists but also instill curiosity about the potential of this technique in optimizing patient care.   Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:46 Defining Dry Needling 01:49 The Physiology 07:26 Difficulty of human studies 08:15 Active vs. Latent Trigger Points 10:05 Reliability Issues of TP Therapy 12:00 Referred pain in Trigger Points 15:40 The local twitch response 17:50 In-situ vs. winding technique 18:36 Research vs. Clinical Practice 20:22 Dry Needling for Tendinopathy? 23:58 Evidence for MSK Complaints 28:01 Contraindications and Risks 30:45 Needles vs. Hands 32:16 Kai's Dry Needling Anecdote 33:06 Are we chasing short-term effects? 35:26 Top 3 Reasons to learn Dry Needling 40:01 Closing thoughts 41:06 Outro   Bonus Material Download the referenced transcript including PubMed Links and a high-resolution infographic on this episode as part of your Physiotutors membership on the Physiotutors App. Download the Free App now   Follow our Podcast on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts