Dry Needling

What is dry needling?

Dry needling eases the pain of trigger points by inserting a very thin needle into or around the area. Let’s explore trigger points and dry needling in more detail.

Trigger points

Trigger points are painful, inflamed areas where the muscles or tissues become knotted and cramped, creating a tight, tender area. In addition to pain at the trigger point, these knots often cause pain in another unrelated part of your body.

Dry needling

The needles used during dry needling are eight times thinner than those used for giving shots. They’re also tapered, allowing them to glide through your skin more easily than standard needles.

Though they’re similar to acupuncture needles, the two treatments are different. Dry needling specifically targets knots, disrupting the muscle contractions, relaxing the cramp, and quickly easing your pain.

Dry needling promotes healing in the area by increasing blood circulation blocked by the tight muscles. As a result, the tissues receive more oxygen and nutrients, and wastes are once again eliminated.

When would I need dry needling?

While relaxing trigger points is one of the most frequent reasons for dry needling, this treatment has broader uses.

Your Bowman Physical Therapy provider may recommend dry needling to relieve chronic pain and tightness in large bands of muscles. Dry needling often helps people with the following:

• Fibromyalgia
• Joint problems
• Tendonitis
• Shoulder pain
• Foot pain
• Arm pain
• Low back and neck pain (including whiplash)
• Migraines and tension headaches
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
• Myofascial pain syndrome (trigger points in the connective tissues surrounding muscles)

You may also benefit from dry needling when stress tightens your neck muscles.

What should I expect during dry needling?

Dry needling seldom causes pain, but you may feel a prick when your therapist first inserts the needle. Additionally, some body areas are more tender than others, resulting in temporary discomfort. 

The treatment typically lasts 10-15 minutes, but the process varies, depending on your diagnosis and the treatment area.

Your therapist may use one or several needles and may insert the needle below your skin or deeper into the muscle. Sometimes, the needle stays in for a few seconds; other times, it is left in for up to 15 minutes. Your relief may be immediate, or you may need several sessions for optimal results.

Call Bowman Physical Therapy or request a dry needling consultation online today.