At APSS we actually perform dry needling technique, which is different to acupuncture. Acupuncture uses fine filament needles that are inserted in the skin at specific points along what are considered to be lines of energy (meridians).
Dry needling technique also works with fine needles, but instead of working along meridians, the needle is inserted into the muscle in the region of a myofascial trigger point. The aim of dry needling is to achieve a local twitch response to release muscle tension and pain by resetting the chemical imbalance in muscles and nerves. A healthy muscle feels very little discomfort with the insertion of this needle. However, if the muscle is sensitive and shortened or has active trigger points within it, the subject may feel a sensation like a muscle cramp – ‘the twitch response’.