Find Effective Relief for Your Pain with Dry Needling
Did You Know that Dry Needling Could Help You Achieve Long-Lasting Relief?
Dry needling is a safe and effective method of treatment performed by a licensed physical therapist that works to reduce pain and muscle tension, while simultaneously improving mobility.
It has been proven to treat numerous musculoskeletal issues, including acute and chronic injuries, overuse injuries, neck pain, headaches, back pain, sciatica, muscle spasms, muscle strains, tendinitis, knee pain, hip pain, fibromyalgia, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and more.
If you are dealing with one of these conditions and you’re looking for relief, or if you’d like to gain more information on how dry needling could benefit you, contact Therapy West Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine today!
Dry needling, defined
It can sometimes be difficult to understand exactly what exactly dry needling is. We believe that Choose PT defines dry needling best by stating:
“Dry needling is a technique physical therapists use (where allowed by state law) for the treatment of pain and movement impairments. The technique uses a “dry” needle, one without medication or injection, inserted through the skin into areas of the muscle.
Other terms commonly used to describe dry needling, include trigger point dry needling, and intramuscular manual therapy.
Physical therapists use dry needling to release or inactivate trigger points to relieve pain or improve range of motion. Physical therapists may use dry needling as part of an overall treatment plan.”
What should I know about dry needling?
This treatment method is used by our licensed physical therapists as a way to relieve pain.
When performing dry needling, our physical therapist will insert a sterile acupuncture needle through the skin, into the underlying tendons, ligaments, or muscles that have been affected, in order to relieve pain, decrease muscle tension, and improve mobility.
While it is a common misconception, dry needling is not acupuncture. It is based on a modern scientific study of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems.
While there are some similarities, dry needling is strictly based on Western medicine principles and research. It provides an environment that enhances the body’s ability to heal, ultimately reducing pain in the process.
Is dry needling painful?
Most of our patients report feeling little to no discomfort when undergoing dry needling treatments. Our highly-trained physical therapists know how to make the process as painless as possible; however, some patients may still experience a “twitch response” with the insertion of the needle.
This is comparable to a quick muscle cramp or ache. The 24-48 hours following a dry needling treatment may also result in muscle soreness, which should go away on its own. Sore muscles can be treated at home by applying ice and/or heat packs and drinking plenty of fluids.
How will I benefit from dry needling?
According to Healthline,
“Dry needling may provide relief for some muscular pain and stiffness. In addition, easing the trigger points may improve flexibility and increase range of motion. That’s why this method is often used to treat sports injuries, muscle pain, and even fibromyalgia pain.”
There are a large variety of musculoskeletal issues that can be treated with dry needling.
When paired with our traditional exercise-based physical therapy treatments and advanced manual therapy techniques, we have found that the vast majority of our patients achieved the pain-free goals they were aiming towards.
After conducting a comprehensive evaluation to assess the nature of your condition, your physical therapist will let you know if dry needling is the best course of treatment for you.
We have used dry needling to treat several diverse conditions, from chronic pain sufferers to athletes experiencing delayed onset muscle soreness.
Dry needling can speed up recovery time and allow you to return to your daily life as quickly as possible.
Get started today
If you are interested in our dry needling services, don’t hesitate to contact Therapy West Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine today to schedule a consultation.
We’ll get you started on the path toward recovery!
