What is dry needling?​

When an injury occurs, either from repetitive use or sudden trauma, muscles become inflamed, overstimulated, and enter a protective, yet painful state of constant contraction. These dysfunctional muscles experience spontaneous electrical activity and increased levels of chemical receptors.

 

A therapist can address this pain by inserting a thin needle into the muscle’s trigger point. A trigger point is a taut band of skeletal muscle located within the larger muscle group. Inserting a needle into this area acts as a reset to your muscles and helps them to return to normal.

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What can dry needling help me with?

• back pain

• elbow pain

• fibromyalgia

• foot or ankle pain

• headaches

• hip or knee pain

• neck pain

• sciatica

• shoulder pain

• tendonitis

• other chronic pain​

 

FAQ

1. Is dry needling painful?

Most patients don't feel the insertion of the needle and are surprised by how quick the treatment is. Rest assured; dry needling does not hurt nearly as much as the reason you came to see us in the first place! We’re confident the results of dry needling are worth the treatment.

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2. How long does it take to work?

Most patients feel instant relief. Typically, it takes several visits (along with completing your therapist’s treatment plan) for the long-term, positive effect to take place. Although it takes some time, we think getting to the root of your problem, not just treating the symptoms, is worth it.

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3. Why dry needling as opposed to other treatments?

Dry needling treats the actual source of the problem, not just the symptoms. Many pain-relieving options, such as opioids or injections, only hide the problem and may have negative side effects. Dry needling is a natural solution with no long-term risk.

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4. Is dry needling acupuncture?

No, the difference lies in the approach. Trigger point dry needling targets specific areas in the involved muscles, while acupuncture is based on body meridians. Unlike acupuncture, the needles are not left in the skin during a dry needling treatment. The physical therapist uses a piston technique with the needle and removes it from the skin once treatment is completed.