The Point of Dry Needling
Trigger point dry needling involves inserting an acupuncture needle into a tight or sore muscle. The needle then changes the muscle’s physiology so that the muscle is able to relax. It can be an effective method to address long standing muscle pain or joint problems related to chronic muscle tightness.
The benefits of dry needling can be:
- Decreased muscle soreness
- Increased flexibility
- Muscle relaxation
- Decreased pain
If you decide that dry needling is something you would like to include in your treatment you should expect all or some of the following responses:
- Muscle twitch when the needle is inserted.
- Referred pain and or a deep ache
- Muscle soreness that may persist for 12 to 24 hours.
- A general fatigue
Keep in mind that an acupuncture needles are used and generally are not painful when entering the skin.
The number of treatments for dry needling is dependent on how long the problem has been present and will vary on tissue response. How many needles used every treatment is based on the number of muscle involved and how big of area those muscles cover.
Any of the physical therapists at Back to Motion can answer any more questions you may have 303-832-5577. We encourage you to call us so we can help you decide if trigger point dry needling is right for you.
