Dry needling is a therapeutic technique in which a trained physical therapist inserts small, sterile, filament needles into the skin and muscle. Dry needling evokes a healing response in painful muscular conditions.
What is dry needling?
Dry needling is a physical therapy technique where the physical therapist uses very thin needles to penetrate skin and muscles, triggering a twitch response. The twitch response causes muscles to loosen and lengthen, which helps relieve pain. Some patients report feeling a slight pinch when the needles are inserted, but most describe the procedure as relatively painless.
What are the benefits?
Dry needling is an effective pain management tool and a way of stimulating healing in injured areas. It goes after the direct and palpable source of pain, trigger points and taut bands in the tissue. Physical therapists use dry needling to effectively treat a variety of ailments, from headaches and chronic back pain to tendonitis and plantar fasciitis.
Almost anyone experiencing a variety of pain problems including, but not limited to:
- Acute/chronic injuries
- Headaches
- Neck/back pain
- Tendinitis
- Muscle spasms
- Sciatica
- Hip/knee pain
- Muscle strains
- Fibromyalgia
- Overuse injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis/golf elbow
- Shoulder and scapula problems
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Joint pain and dysfunction
- Plantar fasciitis
- Bursitis
Are there any side effects to Dry Needling?
Side effects may vary among individuals. Typically, only mild muscle soreness or skin bruising is experienced.
