Dry Needling
An effective low risk treatment
Dry needling is an effective and low-risk treatment for myofascial pain syndrome. The procedure involves piercing trigger point areas within a muscle with a thin needle to help "reboot" the nervous system. Needling may also be used to stimulate healing of tendon areas with poor circulation.
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Dry needling is a technique that acupuncturists, physical therapists and other trained healthcare providers use to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement issues. It’s almost always used as part of a larger pain management plan that could include exercise, stretching, massage and other techniques. During this treatment, a provider inserts thin, sharp needles through your skin to treat underlying myofascial trigger points.
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questions on Dry Needling
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What is dry needling?
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique in which a trained physical therapist inserts small, sterile filament needles into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. This generates a twitch response, helping release muscle tension and pain.
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Is dry needling painful?
The needle used in the procedure is very thin and most patients don’t even feel it penetrate the skin. The twitch response usually elicits a very brief (less than a second) painful response. Some patients describe this feeling as a little electrical shock or cramping sensation. This twitch response is a positive and desirable reaction. Pain may also be felt in the referral zone, also and expected response to treatment.
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Is dry needling similar to acupuncture?
Although they use the same thin filament needles, acupuncture and dry needling are two very different treatments. In contrast to most schools of acupuncture, dry needling is strictly based on Western medicine principles and research. Acupuncture is used to treat Traditional Chinese Medical diagnoses of visceral and systemic dysfunction, while dry needling is used to assess and treat myofascial pain. Dry needling relieves pain by inactivating trigger points within muscles. Acupuncture achieves pain relief through the release of endorphins and creating balance in the body’s energy levels. Through the release of cortisol, acupuncture can also have an anti- inflammatory effect on the body. At PT Plus, our physical therapists are not licensed acupuncturists and do not practice acupuncture. Trigger Point Dry Needling and other physical therapy procedures are based on scientific neurophysiological and biomechanical principles.
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Are there side effects after dry needling?
Most patients report feeling sore following the procedure. Symptoms are usually described as sore muscles near the treatment area and in the areas of referred pain. Typically, the soreness lasts a few hours up to two days. Over this time, we may recommend applying heat or ice over the area, gentle stretching, and/or modifying your daily activities, depending on your individual response to the treatment and how sore you feel.
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How long does it usually take to see results?
Most patients notice improvements within a few visits
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How does dry needling fit into my physical therapy treatment plan
We’ve found that dry needling is most effective when used in conjunction with other physical therapy techniques and treatments. Dry needling is often useful early in treatment to help break the pain cycle. Once that is achieved, we may introduce additional physical therapy techniques.
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What is a trigger point, and how did I develop one?
Active trigger points consist of multiple contraction knots within a muscle, and they can develop due to injury, musculoskeletal dysfunction and overuse. Active trigger points impair a person’s ability to lengthen, strengthen or contract the muscle. As a result, the muscle shortens and compresses the structure around it, causing pain.
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400+ reviews
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In the last four years, I have had four different injuries which Jared has treated me for he has fantastic. I must confess he is the best physical therapist I have ever had. He is a great listener and highly skilled at what he does. With many different injuries I’ve sustained he listens and tests carefully and comes up with a plan. He is incredibly observant, with my foot injury he noted my walking gate was off and helped me correct it so I can avoid future injury. Everything he has done has helped me recovery 100% and more.
CColleen F. -
Love working with Adam!! Extremely knowledgeable and super helpful with my therapy! The entire staff are all very personable and super nice to work with!!! I continue to improve and will always return for any future needs I may have as well as highly recommend anyone else who needs help!Great People and Great place!!
DDeb B. -
Dave Andrews is Mr. Magic! He knows more than my orthopedist, I swear. This is the 3rd time I have needed him and the 3rd time he performed his magic to make things better. And I trusted my athletes to him and they loved his work to get them back on the court/mat! Thanks for being there, Dave.
Greg C. -
NIPT is a very friendly team and my physical therapist there, Sky Pruitt, helped me get back to normal after both a bad shoulder with torn labral cartilage and then later a bad knee. He was encouraging knowledgeable and very competent and I never could have come through those episodes without his help. I highly recommend NIPT and Sky Pruitt to anyone in need of help with physical recovery of any kind.
JJ. McCormack -
I’ve been seeing Matt Bray for 6 weeks now and couldn’t be happier with my PT, he is extremely knowledgeable and professional and will return in the future any time I need PT. I would recommend this PT office to anyone.
JJay -
Great staff and treatment is excellent. Always kind and friendly. I highly recommend Dave Andrews and his Co-workers
JJeri L. -
Kristoff is a great physical therapist. He takes time to listen and is very responsive to my therapy needs.
JJohnathan W. -
Due to an automobile accident many years ago, I have regularly used the services of chiropractors and massage therapists, some good and some not so good, so I speak from experience. I have just started using the services of Suzette Barr, LMT, and I must say she is up there with the best! I highly recommend her to anyone in need of a massage. I will continue to be her client as long as she is available.
NNancy B. -
Travis is great and super informative. And seems that he cares about all of his patients. All ages and injuries.
RR. Dolan -
I would highly recommend Greg for your Pt. This is my second with him. 1st my total knee and now my shoulder. He is very patient and listens.
SSheri M. -
I discovered Daryl close to a year ago and have definitely been a repeat customer ever since. His extensive knowledge of how the body works is apparent in his ability to quickly understand my bumbling description of ‘where it hurts’. He listens to exactly what I feel I need and makes additional suggestions for improvement. He may be soft spoken but he certainly delivers an incredibly effective massage!
SSusan K. -
My son, Ryan, sought therapy for overall weakness, abdominal and shoulder pain and the inability to walk. Since starting with NIPT, he has experienced a noticeable increase in strength. He loves working in the pool. Progress has been slow and Ryan is not fully walking yet, but Bradley, Justin, Stephanie and Mishelle have all been so unfailingly kind and patient through the process.
TT. Mosher -
How fortunate it was for me that I was afraid to Kristoff at NIPT I’ve had chronic low back pain for decades and after a recent failed surgery that made it worse and hurt my mobility quite a lot. Kristoff helped me in 15 sessions more than I ever thought possible. I’ve been other physical therapist over the years, but Kristoffs knowledge and understanding of my muscular skills situation was impressive. Now I’m stronger and more mobile, I’m in far less pain and have a realistic exercise path laid out for me that will bring me even better results. Without that providential referral to Kristoff, there is no way I would be where I am. He is a solid professional pleasure to work with, and I recommend him with high praise.
Thomas H.