Another Possible Mechanism of Action for Dry Needling
Dr. Ben Wand recently blogged on the Body in Mind site about a research project his team has just published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Method
They examined 25 people with chronic low back pain enrolled in a randomised cross-over experiment. They compared the effect of acupuncture (using 14 needles in commonly agreed TCM points for back pain) delivered when sensory discrimination was optimised (by asking participants to locate on a picture where their needles were placed) to acupuncture delivered when it was not optimised (asked participant to relax and ignore the needling), on movement-related back pain immediately after each intervention.
Outcome
They reported that the average pain intensity after participants had received acupuncture with sensory discrimination training (2.8 ± 2.5) was less than when they received acupuncture without sensory discrimination training (3.6 ± 2.0). This difference was statistically significant (after adjustment; mean difference = -0.8, 95% CI -1.4 to -0.3; p = 0.011).
You can view Ben’s full blog post here.
As Ben notes, this is hardly a clinical game changer, but it does raise interesting questions about self-perception/bodily awareness, pain and effects beyond just the placebo. From a lot of other high-quality chronic low back pain research, we know that neither sham or verum acupuncture is significantly better (hence attributing both to a placebo effect), but that they are both better than usual care. We also know people with chronic lower back pain have altered brain structures as viewed by neuroimaging studies, and local factors like tactile acuity, proprioception, and neglect exist in this same population.
If you scroll to the bottom of Ben's blog in the Comments section, the second comment is a great example of a complex clinical situation in medical terms that had an amazing outcome on any measuring stick, especially personally for Jeisea’s. If this treatment method sparks interest, you can read more about Yamamota’s New Scalp Acupuncture: Principles and Techniques. This is a comprehensive and free download for those without access to journals. I am not trained in this area, but it is very interesting.
The article also has a great section detailing the importance of safety when needling in the thoracic spine zone, including some colour pictures of ‘fresh’ cadavers and the relative needle penetration through the intercostals. This is exactly why we teach the technique of locating and using a rib as backstop, when treating thoracic trigger point techniques in our Advanced Upper Quadrant Dry Needling Course. Also, we make our Wet Anatomy Lab Workshops available regularly so clinicians can refresh their visual 'under-the-skin' picture of clients.
Going back to Ben’s research, my take is that DN/Acupuncture would already tend to be done in the dermatome of an irritated segment - like Ben suggests - when the situation is for increased stimulation. The concept is to increase the sensory input, feeding back into the spinal cord lamina from which the chronic pain is being perceived, and to increase endogenous opioid release locally and from descending pathways.
On reflection, another possibility from this research is that in getting clients to locate their pain visually, they are actively thinking/associating/experiencing acute pain (that is true pain & activating an appropriate protective response) in an area that has predominately/totally been perceiving chronic pain. So perhaps it helps the brain recognise/recalibrate/localise what is a normal pain sensation cf. the abnormal/altered pain sensations they had previously been experiencing.
Master Needling Course Goes Country
Master Needling Aspirant Alert - following strong hints from recent Advanced Course participants the ultimate course in our dry needling program for 2015 will be held in Esperance. Seems a lot of people want to visit the best place on Earth.... So while this may seem a long way off, it is during a popular time for visitors, so we would suggest you consider making accommodation inquiries and arrangements soon. Would be a shame if you had to sleep with the kangaroos on the beach at Lucky Bay!!
All the best,
Dr Doug Cary PhD
Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (awarded by Australian College of Physiotherapy, 2009)
Clinical Director AAP Education
Examples include;
Resource 1. Calcific Tendinopathy: A personal and professional perspective
Resource 2. Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Resource 3. Needling and Infection Control Guide v3.2
Resource 4. Sleep Hygiene Guide - 16 Key Tips
Resource 5. Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Acute Back Pain
Resource 6. The Top 7 App Guide
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