Dry Needling

You may have heard about an innovative treatment called Dry Needling. Dry needling is an evidence-based therapy technique that uses a thin acupuncture needle to stimulate muscle tissue and relieve muscle pain. It does not inject any medication. Relief of pain and muscle spasms as a part of a complete plan of care improves overall function. If you visit a physical therapist for a functional dry needling session, you may feel relief after only one visit.

Physical therapists use dry needling to help patients reduce pain so that they can return to physical activity. Specific dry needling techniques depend on the tissues being targeted and the overall objective of treatment. For instance, one of the most common objectives is relieving myofascial trigger points or hyperirritable spots that can limit function.

How exactly does dry needling address trigger points? It inactivates them by provoking a local twitch response, or an involuntary reflex in which muscle fibers contract. Then, pain relief occurs on four levels: local pain, spinal pain through nerves, brain stem pain and higher brain center pain.

Another approach, using a microcurrent with the needles, helps break up scar tissue to help improve range of motion.

CONDITIONS helped by DRY NEEDLING

  1. Back Pain
  2. Sciatica
  3. Muscle Spasm
  4. Running Injuries
  5. Shin Splints
  6. Plantar Fasciitis
  7. Neck Pain
  8. Whiplash
  9. Headache
  10. Migraine
  11. TMJ
  12. Trigger Points
  13. Shoulder Pain
  14. Tennisa Elbow
  15. Carpal Tunnel
  16. Tendinitis
  17. Joint Stiffness
  18. Scar Tissue

Erik Strahan, DPT, ATC is CPT's Certified FDN Specialist

Jacob Fryoux, DPT, ATC is CPT's Certified FDN Specialist

Sarah Fryoux, DPT, ATC is CPT's Certified FDN Specialist

Download Consent Form