What is Dry Needling?
Dry Needling (DN) techniques use small, solid filament type needles which are inserted into myofascial trigger points (painful knots in muscles) and tendons to stimulate the body’s natural healing response with the goal of reducing pain and dysfunction.
Our bodies can develop areas of hypersensitivity and tightness as a response to various stressors (prolonged postures, repetitive movements, intense exercise, emotional stress, etc). Examples include your upper traps feeling like rocks after a stressful day in front of a computer or your elbow acting up again after playing in more tennis matches this week.
Trigger points cause muscle to neurologically tighten, which disrupts their normal functioning due to increased pain and local compression of vascular structures and nerves. This can result in tightness, pain, limited ROM, and hinders proper body mechanics and performance. DN treatment targets these dysfunctional tissues as an effective way to restore our muscles and nervous system to baseline.
FAQ:
How does Dry Needling work?
When addressing active trigger points, we are looking to elicit a twitch response (LTR) of the muscle. This LTR is a quick contraction reflex of the muscle from the pressure of the needle, that can be both diagnostic and therapeutic. LTR elicitation results in decreased muscle spasm, reduced chemical irritation, improved flexibility and can provide short term pain relief. This can immediately improve range of motion, function, and decrease or eliminate pain. Besides trigger point dry needling, needles can also be placed into other tissues including tendons, ligaments, around scars or near nerves. The aim of DN may be different depending on the patient’s underlying biomechanics and cause of pain.
What type of pain does Dry Needling treat?
For myofascial and tendon-related dysfunction and pain, the most common regions include:
Neck/Scapular Pain
Sciatica/Piriformis Syndrome
Low/Mid Back Pain
Headaches & Migraines,
Pain in your Shoulders, Hips, Knees, Ankles, etc. (joints)
Golfer's or Tennis Elbow
Plantar Fasciitis/Achilles tendonitis
Why is it called Dry Needling?
It is called "dry" needling because no solution is injected into the tissue. The needles used are acupuncture needles which are solid point, stainless steel, one-time use needles.
So it’s like acupuncture?
Although we use acupuncture needles, the two techniques are vastly different. Acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine with the purpose of altering the flow of energy ("Qi") along traditional meridian lines for the treatment of disease and pain. Numerous needles are inserted superficially into the skin along these meridian lines, at times from head to toe.
DN is based on Western Medicine principles and research with focus on human anatomy and physiology. Dry needling gets to the source of your pain by targeting myofascial trigger points, injured tendons, or providing a “neurological reset” to a region (similar to a joint manipulation).
Does it hurt?
Each patient’s experience varies depending on what tissues are being treated, pain tolerance, and degree of dysfunction. Most patients describe DN as a “deep ache, burn, and/or occasionally sharp” depending on the factors listed above. Typically, patients report not feeling the needle penetrate the skin and minimal discomfort. It varies from person to person. Once inserted, the therapist may decide to work the needle in different directions to elicit a LTR. These twitches can be sudden and sharp but are an indicator of an active trigger point. LTR’s validate the patient’s myofascial related dysfunction and pain. Increased frequency of needle scanning and LTRs can cause more localized soreness during and after treatment.
What should I expect after treatment?
Localized soreness, similar to a hard workout, is common after a dry needling session. The soreness typically resolves within 24-48 hours. Heat, proper hydration, massage, and gentle stretching can help reduce this soreness. You can continue to exercise that day but should not perform maximal loading. The muscle undergoes local “trauma” from the treatment, resulting in decreased power output. You may also feel weaker or more sore if you workout the same day of being dry needled. Consult with your therapist to gameplan returning to your normal exercise or sport participation after treatment.
Still have questions? Give us a call at 281-301-5447 to see if dry needling may be a treatment that can help you return to activity and sport goals!
- Dr. Megan Eikenhorst, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT
“Our mission at TACTIC RECOVERY is to help athletes and active adults stay active by optimizing movement, performance, and recovery with our physical therapy, wellness & performance, and recovery services. If you're ready to take a TACTICAL approach to your performance and recovery to get back to doing the things you love without pain or limitations, we'd love to help!”
To schedule an appointment, give us a call at 281-301-5447 or email us info@tacticrecovery.com.