How Can Dry Needling Help You?
Cindy Molina, PT, CMPT, MSPT | March 30, 2019
What is dry needling?
Have you heard the term dry needling and wondered what it is? Many people wrongly assume it is acupuncture; it is not. Dry needling, also called trigger point dry needling, functional dry needling or intramuscular stimulation uses a solid thin filiform needle without medication (dry) inserted into tissue for the treatment of pain and movement impairments. Dry needling is performed to release myofascial and musculoskeletal trigger points and scar tissue adhesions
How dry needling can benefit you:
Dry needling is used for a variety of conditions, including muscle tightness and tension or trigger points, adhered scars, overactive muscles and to improve circulation. Physical therapists use dry needling with the goals of releasing restrictions to improve range of motion, mobility and function and to decrease pain. Preliminary research supports that dry needling improves pain, reduces muscle tension, and normalizes dysfunctions of the motor end plates, the sites at which nerve impulses are transmitted to muscles. [1] If you have a sore back from doing too much yardwork or tight legs from a big bike ride, dry needling can help release the tightness and relieve the pain to get you back to your daily routine.
How quickly benefits can be realized:
The benefits from dry needling can be realized immediately; however it is not uncommon to be sore from the session and you may need the soreness to go away before you realize how your pain has decreased. Your range of motion will likely improve immediately. Often only one or two sessions is all it takes to get you back to your normal routine if your injury is acute. Dry needling is effective on acute and chronic conditions, but the longer you’ve had pain the more sessions you will likely need, even though relief is usually felt with one treatment. Dry needling is a very effective ongoing treatment for people with chronic pain that is not relieved with other treatment options.
If you are interested in dry needling, make sure you find a skilled therapist that is comfortable practicing dry needling and gets needling themselves. There are many different dry needling techniques and you want to make sure that your therapist knows what their treatment feels like and the goal of each session.
- Kalichman L, Vulfsons S. Dry needling in the management of musculoskeletal pain. J Am Board Fam Med. 2010;23(5):640–646. Free Article.
If you would like to learn more about dry needling, call to talk to me or book an appointment and I will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.
303-900-2282.