Dangers of Dry Needling

DR. SUBHANJAN DAS, PTSubhanjan_82@yahoo.com

+91 8967549104Dry Needling Instructor

MPT (Musculoskeletal & Sports)Assoc. Prof., BIMLS, Burdwan

Also in the serieshttp://www.slideshare.net/SubhanjanDas/introduction-to-dry-nee

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http://www.slideshare.net/SubhanjanDas/2-brief-hisory-of-needling

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Dry needling poses certain potential risks to the patient and therapists which are not associated with traditional non-invasive physiotherapy treatment.

PneumothoraxDry needling may puncture pleura and cause

pneumothorax.

DN should be performed with special precautions around thorax

needling is done obliquely and superficially. Emphysematous patients have maximum risk.

A pincer grip should be utilised as in the case of the upper trapezius, or needling over bone to protect the lung as in the case of the scapula and ribs.

The risk of a pneumothorax is very small if proper needling techniques are employed

The risk of a pneumothorax is very small if proper needling techniques are employed

Clinical featuresSudden and sharp chest painBreathing difficulty

Tight chestEarly fatigueTachycardiadimished chest soundsLow O2 tensionLow BP

Blood Vesselswith DN there is a potential of injury to blood

vessels.Palpating for a pulse to locate an artery prior

to DN minimizes the risk.

Nerve with DN there is potential for injury to

nerves. Special consideration needs to be given in

relation to the spine and in the posterior sub occipital area

the brain stem is accessible through the foramen magnum.

OrgansAnatomical knowledge of internal organs is

important as with DN there is potential forinjury to internal organs such as the kidney

or penetration into the peritoneum cavity.

Others Stuck, bent, broken needle.Forgotten needle, forgotten patient.Euphoria

Minor adverse effects

1. needling pain2. aggravation of symptoms3. faintness, drowsiness

Patient instructionsRegarding activityRegarding decision making!

rare but serious traumatic complications could be avoided if practitioners had better anatomical knowledge, applied existing anatomical knowledge better, or both (Peuker and Gronemeyer 2001).