What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a treatment for relieving muscular tightness, spasm and pain which commonly follows injuries, degenerative processes, stress and overuse of the muscles. Muscular tightness and spasm can cause compression and irritation of the nerves exiting the spine. When the nerves are irritated, they cause a protective spasm of all the muscles to which they are connected. This may cause peripheral diagnoses such as carpel tunnel, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, decreased mobility and chronic pain. Small, thin needles are inserted into painful areas of muscles known as trigger points. Trigger points are irritable, hard "knots" within a muscle that may cause pain over a large area, leading to difficulty performing everyday tasks. When a trigger point is touched, it hurts and can also cause pain in nearby areas. Dry needling is a treatment that involves a very thin needle being pushed through the skin to stimulate a trigger point. Dry needling may release the tight muscle bands associated with trigger points and lead to decreased pain and improved function. Because the needles are so thin, the patient often does not even feel the needle being inserted. The patient typically notices immediate increased flexibility of the muscle and a decrease in symptoms.

Common diagnoses that are treated with dry needling include chronic pain, sports related muscle strains, fibromyalgia and headaches. Trigger point dry needling is used in conjunction with other therapeutic interventions to provide our patients with the upmost care and proven pain relief.