Getting to the Point: What is Dry Needling and Why Do Physical Therapists Use It?

What is Dry Needling? (It’s Not Acupuncture!)

Dry Needling is a highly effective, modern physical therapy technique used to treat muscle pain, movement problems, and dysfunction.

Here are the key things to know:

• The Needle: A "dry" needle is a very thin, solid filament needle (like those used in acupuncture) that contains no medication or injection.

• The Target: We use the needle to find and deactivate Myofascial Trigger Points, commonly known as muscle knots. These are hyper-irritable spots within a tight band of muscle that can cause significant local and referred pain.

• The Goal: Dry needling's goal is purely musculoskeletal. It is rooted in Western medical principles and modern research on the nervous and muscular systems. It's used to reset dysfunctional muscle tissue, reduce pain, and restore normal movement.

Dry Needling is different from Acupuncture. While they use the same tool, acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine to balance energy flow ("Qi") along meridians. Dry Needling is based on modern anatomy and physiology to treat specific muscles and nerve pathways.

How Does Dry Needling Work to Relieve Pain?

When our Doctor of Physical Therapy inserts the sterile, single-use needle into a trigger point, a few powerful things happen:

1. The Local Twitch Response: The needle causes the muscle to elicit a quick, involuntary contraction (a "twitch"). This reaction is often a good sign and helps to "reset" the muscle, causing it to immediately relax and reduce tension in the taut band.

2. Increased Blood Flow & Healing: The micro-trauma created by the needle stimulates a local inflammatory response, increasing circulation to the area. This influx of fresh, oxygenated blood helps to flush out inflammatory chemicals and promote tissue repair.

3. Pain Signal Disruption: The technique can stimulate nerve fibers that help block pain signals and trigger your brain to release natural, opioid-like pain-relieving chemicals (like endorphins).

What Conditions Can Dry Needling Help Treat?

Dry needling is never a standalone treatment; it is always used as an adjunct to your personalized plan of care (e.g., combined with exercise and manual therapy).

We often use it to accelerate recovery from:

• Headaches (Tension/Migraine)

• Neck and Low Back Pain

• Sciatica and Radiculopathies (Nerve Pain)

• Shoulder and Rotator Cuff Pain

• Plantar Fasciitis

• Tennis and Golfer's Elbow

• Muscle Strains and Spasms

What Should I Expect During and After Treatment?

During Insertion

You may feel a brief pinch, similar to receiving an injection, such as an IV or vaccine. The sensation of the local twitch response is often described as a brief cramp, muscle ache, or twitch. This is a positive, momentary feeling.

Immediately After

Many patients report immediate relief and a noticeable increase in range of motion. The treated muscle may feel "heavy" or "fatigued."

After 24-48 Hours

It is common to experience mild soreness (like you had a good workout) and minor, temporary bruising at the needling site. We recommend staying hydrated and applying heat and/ or light movements to the muscle(s) that were needled.

Is Dry Needling Right for You?

Dry needling is a technique performed only by our specially trained Doctors of Physical Therapy who have completed extensive post-graduate certification.

If you have persistent pain, stubborn muscle knots, or an area that manual therapy alone isn't quite reaching, dry needling may be the "reset" your body needs to unlock better movement.

Ready to find the root cause of your pain?

We'll determine if dry needling is appropriate for you during your Initial Evaluation. We always require a signed consent form before treatment and will ensure you are comfortable every step of the way.

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