Dry needling is a physical therapy technique that uses sterile needles to stimulate muscle and tissue healing. It is based on modern scientific research and neuro-anatomy.
It is very effective in treating a variety of symptoms and conditions. It is often used in conjunction with other therapy techniques.It targets myofascial trigger points (MTrP) that can cause pain and referred pain throughout the body.Pain ReliefDry needling is an effective treatment for musculoskeletal pain, including neck pain and shoulder issues; elbow pain (tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow); wrist pain (carpal tunnel; tendinitis); lower back pain; hip pain; and headaches to include migraines and tension-type headaches. It’s often used in conjunction with physical therapy or chiropractic care.A health professional sterilizes a needle and inserts it into the muscle knot. A patient may feel a slight pressure or pin prick sensation as the needle is placed, but the procedure is usually painless.Tight muscle bands that form in muscles from injury or prolonged contraction are referred to as “muscle knots.” Dry needling targets these trigger points to relieve them, which can help reduce pain and improve movement. This systematic review with meta-analysis found that deep needling has a better effect than superficial needling and acupuncture on pain reduction, but there was little difference between needling local to the painful area and needling remote to the painful area.Increased Range of MotionDry needling is an effective treatment for myofascial pain syndrome and other conditions. It’s used by physical therapists and other healthcare providers as part of an overall pain management plan. It’s also an option for people who haven’t found relief through other therapies, such as exercise, heat and manual therapy.During a dry needling session, your provider inserts a needle into the skin and muscle to treat myofascial trigger points (also called knots). These tight bands of skeletal muscle within larger muscles cause pain and dysfunction. They can also cause referred pain, which can occur in other areas of the body.The physical therapist may move the needle around to get what’s called a local twitch response, which is a quick spasm of the muscle. The twitch response is a good sign that the muscle is responding to the needle. Several studies have compared deep and superficial dry needling and acupuncture for pain reduction in spine-related painful conditions.Increased StrengthTight muscles can inhibit movement, cause pain and limit strength. A physical therapist or licensed acupuncturist can use dry needling to ease these muscle knots and increase your overall strength and range of motion.The needles penetrate deep into your muscle tissue and stimulate a response from your nervous system that activates the production of “feel good” endorphins to help relieve pain. This is what differentiates dry needling from acupuncture. While acupuncture is an ancient practice based on pathways for energy (known as meridian lines) that run throughout your body, dry needling focuses solely on dysfunctional muscle trigger points.A recent study comparing deep needling to superficial needling for treating myofascial trigger point pain found that both methods resulted in clinically significant changes in pain levels over time, but that the depth of needle penetration (deep vs. superficial) may affect the outcome. However, more high-quality studies of the benefits of deep needling versus superficial needling are needed.Improved SleepDry Needling is a medical technique that involves inserting a needle into muscle “knots” (myofascial trigger points) in order to reduce pain and improve movement. It is a therapeutic modality for treating many musculoskeletal problems, including chronic pain, tight muscles, limited mobility and headaches.These tight bands of skeletal muscle within larger muscle groups form when muscles are injured or overused, and can be painful to the touch. They can also create referred pain in other parts of the body, which affects our daily function and quality of life.Studies have shown that dry needling is effective in reducing pain for many common conditions, including lumbar radiculopathy, plantar heel pain, shoulder impingement, bruxism/TMD, and fibromyalgia. Additionally, it can be more effective than massage therapy or instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization techniques such as the Graston Technique. Our physical therapists are trained in this innovative technique. Request an appointment today to see how it could benefit you!dry needling north canton
