What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling came to prominence in the 20th century. It is particularly beneficial for patients with trigger point pain. A trigger point is a muscle that is painful when touched due to tightness and knotting. It takes its name from the fact that it uses slender needles without medication to penetrate the patient’s skin. These needles stimulate the targeted muscles, causing trigger points to relax and release.

Needling is a technique that resolves soft-tissue problems such as adhesion, edema, microcirculation, inflammation, and contracture. As a component of sports medicine, it is particularly beneficial for:

1. Recovering from the effects of overtraining syndrome
2. Reducing muscle contracture and spasms
3. Managing delayed-onset muscle soreness
4. Promoting healing of tendonitis, muscles strains, and injuries linked to overuse
5. Reducing swelling related to acute trauma such as an ankle sprain
6. Boosting systemic myofascial balance
7. Restoring wellness after sports injuries and surgery

What to Expect During an Appointment

Dry needling has been in use for approximately 40 years. It is often a therapeutic recommendation in the individualized treatment plan that each patient receives. This technique reaches sections of muscles and deeper tissues that are not accessible with manual adjustments.

During this procedure, our chiropractor inserts thin filiform needles into each targeted trigger point. After the needle deactivates the trigger point, sufferers can experience reduced pain and increased range of motion. Many claim that they experience no sensation of a needle when it penetrates the skin. Some individuals experience a twitch response after the treatment of a muscle.