Dry Needling

You may have heard of a treatment called dry needling and wondered what exactly it is and whether it is the right thing for you.

Despite its intimidating name, dry needling is safe, minimally uncomfortable, and often an effective technique for patients with specific musculoskeletal presentations. Dry needling is a treatment performed by certified, skilled, and trained individuals. A thin monofilament needle penetrates the skin and treats underlying muscle trigger points for nerve-muscle-skeletal pain and movement disorders.

So, what is a trigger point? A trigger point is a local contracture or tight band in a muscle fiber that can impair function, restrict range of motion, cause pain, or result in local tenderness. When dry needling is applied to a dysfunctional muscle or trigger point, it can reduce banding or tightness, increase blood flow, and alleviate local and referred pain.

It is important to note that dry needling is not the same as acupuncture. They use similar tools, but that’s where the similarities end. Dry needling is performed by different practitioners with different training. While acupuncture is based on Eastern medicine, dry needling is based on Western medicine and focuses on the evaluation of pain patterns, posture, movement dysfunctions, function, and orthopedic tests.

Dry needling treats muscle tissue and aims to reduce pain, deactivate trigger points, and restore function. It is rarely an independent procedure. On the contrary, it is usually part of a broader physical therapy approach that incorporates other traditional physical therapy interventions.

Dry needling can be used for a wide range of musculoskeletal problems such as shoulder, neck, heel, hip, and back pain. Research has shown that dry needling is a safe and effective approach to treating and managing pain.