Dry Needling

What is a trigger point?

A trigger point is a local contracture or tight band in a muscle fiber that can disrupt function, restrict range of motion, refer pain, or cause local tenderness. Overworked muscles often become tight and develop these knots or “trigger points”. Chronic tightness produces inflammation and swelling that ultimately leads to the formation of “adhesions” between tissues.

What are common causes of trigger points?

Past injuries, surgeries, poor posture, stress, and repetitive movements, and poor movement patterns.

What is trigger point dry needling?

Dry needling, also known as Medical Acupuncture, involves your chiropractor or physical therapist inserting tiny acupuncture needles into trigger points or specific structures with the goal to improve a musculoskeletal orthopedic condition.

Benefits

  • Decrease pain
  • Improve range of motion and mobility
  • Improve muscle function
  • Stimulate healing response

Is the therapy painful?

Most patients don’t feel the insertion of the needle because it is very thin. A small muscle “twitch” will occur as muscles release tension; mild soreness following dry needling can last a few hours to a day.

What is the difference between traditional acupuncture and dry needling?

Trigger point dry needling is a more modern treatment applied to specific anatomical sites in order to create a physiological response, and sometimes with electrical stimulation applied for added effect. Acupuncture is based on the idea of balance and restoring proper flow of energy (known as “Qi”) throughout the body, and is based onTraditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Why is it called dry needling?

“Wet” needling would involve injecting medication into the body. Dry needling does not use any form of medication and does not inject anything into the body.

What is the difference between manual trigger point therapy and dry needling ?

Myofascial trigger point therapy is a specialized, soft tissue technique that helps decrease and eventually eliminate myofascial trigger points. Unlike dry needling that uses a tiny needle, manual trigger point therapy is performed by the chiropractor, applying sustained compressive force to the involved painful muscle fibers, until the muscle relaxes, and pain decreases.

Our office uses dry needling to treat musculoskeletal pain and promote healing.

Call today to make an appointment.