Contraindications 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

http://www.slideshare.net/SubhanjanDas/3-superficial-dry-needling

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From APTA resource paper on DN

Absolute Contraindications:1. In a patient with needle phobia2. Unwilling patient - patient beliefs, fear etc3. Unable to give consent - age-related,

communication, cognitive4. History of untoward reaction to needling (or

injection) in the past5. Medical emergency

6. Into a muscle or area in patients on anticoagulant therapy or with thrombocytopenia,

where haemostasis by palpation cannot be carried out appropriately e.g. psoas,

tibialis posterior7. Into an area or limb with lymphoedema as

patients with lymphoedema maybe moresusceptible to infection. In addition it is not

advisable to needle a limb after surgicallymphectomy.

Relative contraindication1. Abnormal Bleeding Tendency: anticoagulant

therapy, thrombocytopenia2. Compromised Immune System:

1. Immunocompromised patients from disease (e.g. Blood borne disease, Cancer, HIV,

AIDS, Hepatitis, bacterial endocarditis, incompetent heart valve or valve

replacements etc.)2. Immunocompromised from immumosuppression therapy or

on cancer therapy3. Debilitated patients or those with chronic illness etc4. Acute immune disorders (E.G. acute states of rheumatoid

arthritis, current infection,local or systemic etc.)

3. Vascular Disease4. Diabetes5. Pregnancy: one in four to five pregnancies

may naturally terminate in the first trimester. 6. Frail Patients7. Epilepsy8. Children