You may have heard of acupuncture, but have you heard of dry needling? If you’re up for trying new things to help with your physical therapy, keep reading to get more information on dry needling and how it works in physical therapy.
What Is Dry Needling?
Although dry needling has been used in therapy for the last 15+ years, it is becoming more popular now as more and more therapists are being trained and certified on it. Dry needling uses thin, solid needles to penetrate trigger points or hard “knots” in the muscle to reduce muscle pain and improve function. The needle then creates a twitch response from the muscle, which will help the brain ‘reset’ the muscle to a normal resting tone. This will improve the muscle’s ability to relax and contract, which helps provide pain relief.
What Can Be Treated Whit Dry Needling?
Some of the pain problems include, but are not limited to:
- Headaches
- Tendinitis
- Muscle Spasms
- Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow
- Muscle strains
- Fibromyalgia
- Neck and Back pain
- Spinal dysfunction
What Are Dry Needling Benefits?
- Reduces pain and stiffness
- Improves mobility
- Improves muscle function
What Are Dry Needling Side Effects?
Dry needling is a safe treatment for pain relief. The side effects can vary from patient to patient, but the most common side effect is temporary soreness and possible bruising.
Who Can Perform Dry Needling?
Not all physical therapists can do dry needling. A qualified therapist goes through intense training and receives the appropriate certification on this technique. Ashely Sloan, one of our physical therapists at the City Base West location and Emily Valdez at our Westover Hills location are both certified in dry needling.
At Momentum Physical Therapy we perform dry needling as part of a treatment plan including therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, functional training, and other forms of physical therapy. If you think dry needling is right for you, give Momentum Physical Therapy a call today to set up your appointment.
