Dry Needling

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Dry Needling

What is dry needling?

Dry needling is a popular, minimally invasive, effective treatment approach used to treat:

  • chronic pain in neck, lower back, shoulders,
  • muscles and ligaments strains,
  • carpal tunnel syndrome,
  • tennis, and golfer’s elbow,
  • osteoarthritis,
  • sciatica pain.

The treatment is performed by skilled, trained physical therapists, certified in the procedure.

What to expect during the dry needling procedure?

During the procedure a physical therapist will insert a thin monofilament needle that will penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying muscular trigger points for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments. The needle allows a physical therapist to target tissues they are not able to reach with their hands.

How long does it take to see results with Dry Needling treatments?

It usually takes 2-3 visits for lasting changes to hold.  Usually, the muscles will relax at first then fall back into old patterns of pain and dysfunction. Therefore, there is a cumulative effect over multiple treatments where the neuro-muscular patterns are retrained.  After a certain number of treatments, the pain cycle is broken, and proper muscle and nerve function is restored.

What are the other possible side-effects of treatment?

Dry needling is a safe and well-tolerated procedure. Some patients report having sore muscles after dry needling while others do not experience any side effects after their session at all. When side effects do occur, they are usually mild and disappear quickly. The side effects of dry needling can include the following:

  • Bruising,
  • Slight pain,
  • Fatigue,
  • Skin reactions.

What should I do after dry needling?

Usually, you will not need to do anything after treatment except rest. It is recommended to increase your water intake for the next 24 hours after treatment to help avoid soreness. When muscle soreness is excessive, you may try soaking in a hot bath or hot tub to help with post treatment soreness.