Second installment of our "No Mess Up Mondays" series on Facebook. You can check it out here or (facebook.com/msdryneedling). Remember, one of the best ways to stay safe and smart when you are performing dry needling is knowing exactly what lies under the surface of the skin before you insert a needle! If you've taken our dry needling course, you know how much we emphasize the precautions...repeatedly! I truly believe one of the keys to a successful dry needling course and the key to safe dry needling practice is a thorough understanding of anatomy.
The Sciatic Nerve
Take a close look at the image above. It is a big nerve, which means it is a big target! That is why we avoid the mid-line when we are performing dry needling to the muscles of the posterior hip or the hamstrings. Personally, I've had my sciatic nerve "zinged" during a dry needling course several years ago. It was like a bolt of lightening all the way to my foot and I had a paresthesia for the next 30 minutes. Good times. Don't stick a needle in your patient's sciatic nerve. Some courses teach nerve needling as a technique...no thanks, but hey, to each is own and more power to those folks. For some, it may have been a while since you attended a dry needling course. Spend a moment remembering the anatomy. It is easy to get complacent when you needle several people a day! Use this moment as a good reminder of what lies beneath!
Tip:
If it's been a while since you've taken our dry needling course, remember we offer low priced course audits to come and get refreshed on the precautions and the constant updates we make to the course!
Here’s how to do it: