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Is Dry Needling Good for Arthritis?

by | Aug 17, 2023 | Treatment Techniques

Close up man touching palm and feeling a pain.
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If you’re one of the millions of people worldwide affected by arthritis, you’re likely looking for a solution to end your pain and stiffness. One treatment option you may encounter in your research is dry needling. But what exactly is dry needling, and can it really help alleviate the discomfort caused by arthritis? 

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is an increasingly popular treatment that continues to show great outcomes with patients suffering from a wide variety of symptoms. Dry needling is performed by utilizing a small, thin needle to penetrate the skin to improve the environment of the designated area for healing.

➡ Related Content: Everything You Need To Know About Dry Needling

This process might sound very similar to acupuncture – which also uses needles as a treatment. However, acupuncture comes from traditional Chinese treatment and is a whole-body, energy-based approach. Dry needling, by contrast, is performed by physical therapists to treat a specific musculoskeletal condition or pain.

➡ Related Content: Are Dry Needling and Acupuncture the Same?

Dry Needling for Arthritis

Dry needling can be an effective treatment option for arthritis as part of a full physical therapy plan. Any muscle, ligament, tendon, joint, or scar tissue can be needled. Trigger points – hyperirritable spots located in skeletal muscle – often develop in muscles that cross arthritic joints. Dry needling increases blood flow and oxygen to the affected tissues as well as promotes release of our body’s self-made opioids. This helps increase range of motion, decrease muscle tone, and decrease pain. For that reason, dry needling can be used as an effective pain reliever for those with arthritis. 

➡ Related Content: How to Treat Post-Injury Degenerative Joint Disease

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 and its 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 arthritis? Give us a call! We offer complimentary phone and in-person consultations. 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!

 

Dr. Kevin Spahr
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Chris
Working with Lily at the Northeast clinic was awesome! I worked with her for over a year rehabbing a knee issue. She was very patient with me and worked at my pace, but would push me when she knew I could handle it. She was professional, yet a joy to work with. I will be recommending Lily and the NE clinic to anyone I know! (Mark B)
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Dr Kelvin is amazing, and the front receptionist Jenny is awesome and welcoming. Thank you guys for helping me with my back pain.
Olivia D.
Highly recommend Lily Anderson! I'm a runner and I've done *a lot* of physical therapy at a lot of different practices. PRO Therapy stands apart because of how easy it is to schedule appointments compared to larger health systems. Lily is also always accessible by email and, unlike PTs I've had at larger health systems, always responded to my emails promptly and with substantive advice. I appreciate Lily's strength focused approach and targeted use of manual therapies, and how she made sure to inquire about adequate fueling and other injury risk factors. While I hope I won't be back soon, as a runner I know I'll need PT help again at some point. When I do, I won't hesitate to go back to Lily at PRO Therapy.
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Super attentive and helpful staff. Felt very comfortable and taken care of.
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I cannot recommend Lilly highly enough! After experiencing significant shoulder pain following an injury, I was unsure how to find relief. From the very first session, Lilly's expertise and compassionate approach made all the difference.

She took the time to thoroughly assess my condition and developed a tailored treatment plan that addressed my specific needs. Throughout our sessions, Lilly was incredibly patient and supportive, guiding me through each exercise and explaining their purpose. Her knowledge of anatomy and rehabilitation techniques is impressive, and she always ensured I felt comfortable and confident in my progress.

Thanks to her dedication and encouragement, I have significantly improved my strength and mobility. Lilly truly cares about her patients, and it shows in her work. If you're looking for a skilled and attentive physical therapist, I highly recommend Lilly. She has truly changed my life!

Thank you, Lilly, for your help.
Misty L.
Kevin at ProTherapy is excellent! He is able to listen to feedback and discern next steps for meeting clients where they are at on their healing journey. He really cares about his client's wellness. His guidance as been spot on and appreciated! I will recommend ProTherapy to family and friends.
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I was referred to PRO Therapy by my chiropractor. I was in desperate need of a good PT after very minimal mediocre treatment at another well known clinic. My first visit I knew my experience would be different with PRO Therapy. There was adequate time to share the history following my knee injury and I felt like I was taken seriously. Dr. Spahr formulated a plan that I was comfortable with and we were off. He made it clear that he wanted to see if we could truly heal the knee without another cortisone injection. I love that I felt included in my treatment plan and am always asked if I have questions about what we’re doing. Dr. Spahr is very good at what he does, he’s super knowledgeable for sure! He has a very good and natural ability to meet you where you’re at and moving at a pace that works for your body. My knee issues are resolving at a remarkable pace without another cortisone injection! When I started with PRO Therapy, I thought at the end of it all I would likely need another injection but that’s not the case at all. I would absolutely recommend you give PRO Therapy a try if you’re considering. I’ve referred my husband and can’t wait to see what kind of results he will have. Thanks Dr. Spahr!
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As a chiropractor, I've explored various treatments for my persistent knee pain, but Stimwave therapy at ProTherapy has been the most effective. The team was knowledgeable, professional, and made me feel comfortable throughout the process. Since starting treatment, my knee pain has improved significantly and the constant ache I was having is gone.
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Would recommend and would return for future needs. Dr. Lily was a great listener and tailored her approach to my needs, reassessing each time to make sure I was progressing and my overall goals were met. I also received weekly emails with my plan and left treatment with an overall plan to sustain my improvements. If you’re having pain, soreness, lack of mobility, etc. this will help.
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