Dry needling serves as a therapeutic intervention employed to address pain and movement issues linked to myofascial trigger points, nerve sensitivity or muscle dysfunction. During the treatment, thin needles are strategically inserted into the muscle, stimulating the muscles and often inducing contractions or twitches. For some cases, electrodes are attached to the inserted needles to enhance the electrical signaling within the tissue. These electrodes deliver a low-level electrical current, creating a mild, controlled stimulation of the muscles. The combination of dry needling and electrical stimulation can amplify the therapeutic effects and provide additional benefits.
Key Benefits of Dry Needling:
Pain Relief:
Dry needling is proven to alleviate acute and chronic pain both locally by targeting trigger points, and systematically by blocking pain signals to the brain and stimulating endogenous analgesic chemical release.
Improved Range of Motion:
This technique relaxes tense muscles, promoting increased flexibility and range of motion, especially beneficial for post-injury or post-surgery rehabilitation.
Enhanced Healing:
By stimulating local inflammatory pathways, dry needling boosts blood flow, which facilitates nutrient delivery and waste removal for accelerated healing.
Complementary Integration:
Dry needling can be a valuable addition to the comprehensive physical therapy plan when used to prepare the muscle for movement retraining and strength loading, or to facilitate recovery post exercise.
Dry needling stands as a precise and valuable tool in physical therapy, offering targeted pain relief, improved mobility, and accelerated healing. For those seeking a holistic approach to rehabilitation, dry needling is a promising avenue for enhanced well-being and restored functionality.
Schedule a free 15 minute consultation with one of our Doctors or Physical Therapy to learn more about dry needling and discuss if it would be a good fit for you.