Dry needling
Dry Needling consists of two methods:
the Canadian method, commonly used by physiotherapists, and
the Chinese method, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Many clients report that Dry Needling performed by physiotherapists was very painful and provided little long-term relief.
This is because the Canadian method works mainly on a local muscular level. Pain may temporarily decrease, but the underlying cause often remains untreated — causing symptoms to return quickly.
The Chinese method works differently: it focuses not only on the muscle, but also on the meridians, energy flow and deeper patterns behind the complaint. As a result, the treatment is usually less painful and offers deeper, longer-lasting effects.
The Canadian method
The Canadian method of Dry Needling works as follows: the trigger point — a blockage in the muscle that feels like a small knot or tight cord — is barely massaged or prepared. A relatively thick needle of 0.5 mm is inserted directly into the trigger point. The needle is slightly manipulated and then left in place for a short time.
The intention is that waste products will drain from the trigger point.
However, in practice this rarely happens. Because the surrounding tissue is not opened or prepared, the stagnation cannot properly release, and the waste products often remain trapped. This results in limited or short-term improvement.
For this reason, we do not use the Canadian method.
We choose TCM Dry Needling, which treats not only the trigger point but also the surrounding meridians, energy pathways and muscular structures — allowing the blockage to release fully.
The Chinese method
In the Chinese Dry Needling method (based on Traditional Chinese Medicine – TCM), we begin by placing extremely fine acupuncture needles on specific points in the body. These needles are only 0.25 mm thick and help open the entire area around the painful point.
We then treat the trigger point using deeper massage techniques. This can be slightly uncomfortable, but it is essential for releasing the blockage.
Once the trigger point has relaxed sufficiently, we insert ultra-thin acupuncture needles of 0.2 mm directly into the spot. These needles are gently manipulated to create a small muscle response. They remain in place for about 2 minutes to allow trapped waste products to flow away.
Because the needles are placed along the meridian lines, the drainage of waste products continues even after the trigger point needle has been removed.
The insertion of these needles is almost painless, as they are extremely thin and glide through the skin effortlessly.