Dry Needling: Treating Musculoskeletal Problems and Releasing Tension

Dry Needling and Taping on a patient

What is dry needling?

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique in which a trained physical therapist inserts small, sterile filament needles into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. This generates a twitch response, helping release muscle tension and pain.

What is a trigger point, and how did I develop one?

Trigger points are knots within a muscle that can develop due to injury, musculoskeletal dysfunction, or overuse. These knots impair a person’s ability to lengthen, strengthen, or contract the muscle, causing it to shorten and compress the surrounding structure, resulting in pain.

How can dry needling help me?

Dry needling is effective in treating musculoskeletal issues like:

• Neck, Back, and Shoulder Pain

• Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Tension Headaches and Migraines.

• Jaw & Dental Pain

• Sciatica

• Muscle Strains

• Muscle Tightness and Spasms

  
  

By directly addressing the muscles involved, dry needling targets the root causes of discomfort, creating a pathway to relief through the nervous system.

How does dry needling work?

While the exact mechanisms of dry needling are still being explored, it has been demonstrated to have both mechanical and biochemical effects. Pioneering studies at the National Institutes of Health have shown that inserting a needle into trigger points can trigger biochemical changes that can aid in reducing chronic pain.

What are the characteristics of trigger points?

Clinically, our patients experience improved muscle length, strength, flexibility, and a corresponding reduction in pain after undergoing dry needling treatment.

Trigger points are known to have abnormal electrical activity and are surrounded by numerous chemicals known to cause inflammation. Research has shown that when a needle is successfully inserted into a trigger point and generates a local twitch response, over time, it can return the electrical and chemical environment within the muscle to its normal, relaxed state. Deactivated trigger points draw white blood cells and plasma cells into the area and create a healing response.

Is dry needling similar to acupuncture?

Although they use the same thin filament needles, acupuncture and dry needling are two very different treatments. In contrast to most schools of acupuncture, dry needling is strictly based on Western medicine principles and research. Acupuncture is used to treat Traditional Chinese Medical diagnoses of visceral and systemic dysfunction, while dry needling is used to assess and treat myofascial pain. Dry needling relieves pain by inactivating trigger points within muscles.

Acupuncture achieves pain relief through the release of endorphins and creating balance in the body's energy levels. Through the release of cortisol, acupuncture can also have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.

Trigger Point Dry Needling and other physical therapy procedures are based on scientific neurophysiological and biomechanical principles.

Is dry needling painful?

The needle used in the procedure is very thin and most patients don't even feel it penetrate the skin.

The twitch response usually elicits a very brief (less than a second) painful response. Some patients describe this feeling as a little electrical shock or cramping sensation. This twitch response is a positive and desirable reaction.

Are the needles sterile?

Yes, we only use sterile, disposable needles.

Are there any side effects to the treatment?

Typically, the soreness lasts a few hours up to two days. Over this time, we may recommend applying heat or ice over the area, and/or gentle stretching

How long does it usually take to notice results?

Patients notice a positive reaction within a few visits.

How does dry needling fit into the overall physical therapy treatment plan?

We've found that dry needling is most effective when used in conjunction with other physical therapy techniques and treatments.

Dry needling is often especially useful early in treatment to help break the pain cycle. Once that is achieved, we may introduce additional physical therapy techniques.