Dry Needling

Dry Needling is a general term for a therapeutic treatment procedure that involves use of a solid filament needle into the muscle in the area of the body which produces pain and typically contains a “trigger point”. There is no injectable solution and the needle that is used is very thin. Most patients will not even feel the needle penetrate the skin, but once it enters into the muscle, the discomfort can vary from patient to patient. Usually a healthy muscle feels very little discomfort upon insertion of the needle; however muscles that are sensitive and shortened or contain active trigger points, may feel a sensation much like a muscle cramp, often referred to as a ‘twitch response”.

Typically, positive results are apparent within 2-4 treatment sessions but can vary depending on the cause and duration of the symptoms, overall health of the patient, and experience level of the practitioner. Dry needling is an effective treatment for acute and chronic pain, rehabilitation from injury, and even pain and injury prevention, with very few side effects. This technique is unequaled in finding and eliminating neuromuscular dysfunction that leads to pain and functional deficits.