Dry needling has become a popularized treatment intervention utilized by physical therapists over the past decade.
More people are coming into our PRO Therapy physical therapy clinics searching for dry needling services on their own or with the recommendation from friends and/or family members that they should give dry needling a shot to help reduce their pain and stiffness.
There are also a lot of people who have no idea what it is and how it helps with pain relief.
The purpose of this blog is to help answer some general questions you may have and give you a better understanding on how dry needling may help with your aches, pains and stiffness to get you back to doing the things in life you love to do!
What is Dry Needling Therapy?
Dry needling is a highly skilled intervention that consists of a thin needle penetrating the skin to stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points (muscular and connective tissues) for pain management and problems with normal body movement patterns.
In simple terms: it uses a very small needle that has no medication on it to treat common symptoms such as pain, stiffness and tightness.
Furthermore, it’s a technique to manage faulty performance between our nerves and muscles whereby dry needling can “reset” a muscle that isn’t firing appropriately. The changes induced from the needle can help muscles get back to their normal states of relaxation and contraction.
Is It the Same as Acupuncture?
No. We utilize similar tools/needles as acupuncturists, but dry needling is not considered acupuncture. Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine utilizing meridian lines and corresponding points on the body to treat your symptoms.
Conversely, dry needling consists of locating specific anatmical regions on the body or myofascial trigger points contributing to your symptoms.
In the end, they both have the goal of managing your symptoms and getting you back on track with life – just in different ways.
Related Content: Are Dry Needling and Acupuncture the Same?
Is It Safe?
Yes. The risk associated with dry needling is very low. There is a greater risk of adverse effects from taking Ibuprofen or Aspirin.
On rare occasions, some may get a bruise from where the needle is inserted.
What Does It Feel Like? Does it Hurt?
The needle gets directly inserted into the muscle, so you can expect to experience “muscle-like” sensations when this takes place. We can most confidently describe the sensations as achy or “pressure-like.” You may even note a twitch in the muscle.
Everyone will experience different sensations, but most will agree that the sensations from needle insertion are easily manageable, and the positive effects outweigh the sensations noted during treatment.
The procedure should not be painful. As described above, you may experience some discomfort or ache, but you will not feel a sharp, stabbing pain like you might expect.
Who Can It Help?
When we can identify that muscle problems are a key factor related to someone’s pain and stiffness, the likelihood that dry needling can help is high.
Some common conditions that benefit from this treatment include:
- Headaches
- Jaw Pain
- Low Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Shoulder Pain
- Sciatica
And so much more!
Now that you have the introduction – if you want a deeper dive, explore our next blog in this series: Dry Needling 201
Treatment Options at PRO Therapy
Dry needling is just one of the many treatment options we offer on your path to healing. For some, it’s not necessary. For others, it can provide tremendously positive results. It all depends on your body’s specific needs. That’s why we can’t say dry needling is perfect for everyone – because we don’t know until we meet with you!
Are you currently dealing with an ache or pain and need help? Give us a call! We offer complimentary phone consultations and discovery visits. We aim to meet our patients wherever they are in their journey and answer all questions we can to ensure a smooth experience at PRO Therapy.
We want to help you make the best decision for you – whether that includes dry needling, or another treatment option.
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