Dry Needling
What is Dry Needling
Dry needling is a technique that some physical therapists use as part of a comprehensive physical therapy treatment plan. Dry needling involves inserting a solid filament needle into the skin and muscles near a myofascial trigger point. Dry needling treats muscle tissue with the goals of inactivating trigger points, decreasing pain and improving range of motion.
The physical therapists at FYZICAL Orchard Town Center are trained, certified, and experienced in dry needling, allowing you to benefit from this safe, minimally painful, and very effective technique.
What Our Clients Say
What Is a Myofascial Trigger Point?
A myofascial trigger point consists of multiple contraction knots that develop in your muscles. Trigger points are very sensitive and are often quite painful when touched. While a trigger point may be in the area where you have pain, they are also often the cause of referred pain, which is pain that affects another part of your body.
How Does Dry Needling Work?
Blood carries nutrients and oxygen that your muscles need to heal and relax. It’s hard for your muscles to get enough blood flow when they become stressed and tired from overuse. When your muscles lack blood, the tissues around your trigger point become irritated and acidic, leading to increased pain in the area. Inserting a needle into the trigger point helps to restore normal blood flow and wash away the acidity, thereby helping to decrease pain. Additionally, the insertion of the needle signals your brain to release endorphins, the natural painkillers in your body.
Your therapist palpates the area to locate your trigger point and inserts a needle through the skin into it. They may move the needle a bit to make your muscle twitch or spasm, which is a good sign that your muscle is responding to the treatment. Depending on the technique, the needle may be in place for a few seconds to as long as 20 minutes.
You may feel better immediately after a dry needling treatment, or you may need more than one treatment to feel relief.
Benefits of Dry Needling
When performed by a certified clinician, dry needling is generally safe and effective. The benefits of dry needling include the release of your trigger points, which may help relieve muscle pain and stiffness and improve your range of motion.
Call FYZICAL Orchard Town Center today to see if you might benefit from dry needling.
Resources
Frozen Shoulder & Menopause: How Balance Therapy in Westminster, CO Helps You Stay Active
If your shoulder has become stiff, painful, and hard to move around the time of perimenopause or menopause, you’re not alone...
Read More
Chronic Back Pain in Westminster, CO: How Craniosacral and Red Light Therapy Support Your Spine
If chronic back pain has been part of your life for months or years, it’s easy to assume it will always be there. Many peopl...
Read More
Blood Flow Restriction Training in Physical Therapy: Benefits, Safety, and Results
Written by: Christopher Pawliuk, SPT
Greetings everyone, this is the third part of my three-part blog series on different topics ...
Read MoreConditions That Can Be Treated With Dry Needling
Dry needling is beneficial for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including neck, back, and shoulder pain, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, tension headaches, migraines, sciatica, and muscle spasms.