Dry Needling is a technique performed by a trained physical therapist that involves placing a tiny sterile needle into a myofascial trigger point to help relax tight muscles, relieve pain, and rest chemical imbalances that keep muscles tense.
What is dry needling?
Trigger point dry needling is a technique performed by a trained physical therapist that involves placing a tiny sterile needle into a myofascial trigger point to help relax tight muscles, relieve pain, and rest chemical imbalances that keep muscles tense.
How it works?
Tightness in a muscle interrupts a muscle's energy supply. Decreased energy supply causes an increase in certain chemicals, which leads to continued contraction of the affected muscle area. When a needle is inserted into a trigger point, it helps reset the chemicals and allows the muscle to relax. This can help decrease pain and improve mobility. Needles are inserted into a muscle quickly. The needles are left in until the tightness of the muscle relaxes, which an take a few seconds or up to a minute or two. Only one needle at a time is inserted. After it is removed, another area is needles. Electrical currents are not used with our dry needling technique. Needles may be inserted into the area where you feel pain/tenderness or into a different area that refers pain to the area where you are experiencing issues.
What conditions can it help?
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer's elbow
- Headaches
- Tendonitis
- Myofascial pain
- Joint pain
- Frozen shoulder
- Athletic injuries
- Patellofemoral pain
- Decreased range of motion
- And many, many more!
How many sessions will it take?
Some people feel relief after only one session. Others may take up to 6 sessions to feel complete relief. Results vary from person to person.
