The 411 on Dry Needling

Do people still use the term "411" when it comes to information or am I aging myself?

Anyways.

Dry Needling: What is it?

Dry needling is the term used for a treatment where a healthcare provider, aka your physical therapist, uses a thin needle in or near a trigger point to relieve pain and movement issues associated with said trigger points. This is an effective treatment for treating various movement issues and musculoskeletal pain. This needle is solid and does not contain medication, hence the term "dry".

What is a Trigger Point?

Trigger points are knotted, tender, and usually painful areas that develop within muscles. These areas feel like balled up tissue in the muscle, and they tend to hold onto used up properties that help our muscles perform a contraction. As a result, the muscles don't get adequate blood supply because the muscle is so tight it begins clamping down on the blood vessels surrounding it. This causes the tissues around the nerves in the area to become acidic, which results in more pain in the body due to increased sensitization in the nerves.

Sounds pretty crummy, right? Right.

So how does dry needling help?

Inserting a needle into a trigger point helps improve blood supply to the area, which flushes out the area to relieve the tension. The prick of the needle can also calm the nerves down to relieve the increased sensitization due to stimulating the brain to release endorphins.

In the wise words of Elle Woods:

But really, the endorphins are like a happy pill for your body, and happy people don't have painful trigger points.

Electrical Stimulation

To further enhance the pain-relief process, electrical stimulation can be added to the needles. This stimulation is typically a lower frequency, which helps stimulate smooth muscle fibers to improve blood flow, which as stated above helps decrease the trigger point irritability.

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Dry Needling Frequently Asked Questions

Below you'll find a list of the most common questions I get asked about dry needling:

What conditions can be treated?

A wide array of musculoskeletal conditions, ranging from neck pain, plantarfasciitis, jaw pain, back and hip pain, and even scar tissue management. Curious about a specific injury or painful spot? Reach out and let's chat about it!

Does it hurt?

This is by far the number one questions I get asked, and the short answer is a little bit. It is a sharp needle, so you'll feel the poke as it gets inserted into the muscle. If the trigger point is super sensitized, this may also cause some discomfort as the muscle may have a twitch response to the needle. I try to make it as comfortable as possible, but keep in mind it is a needle, so it will have an element of discomfort.

What are the benefits of dry needling?

This is a minimally invasive technique that has been proven to be wildly effective at reducing painful trigger points, relieving increase tone and tension held within muscles, and improving range of motion in the body.

What are the side effects of dry needling?

Muscles may feel tender and fatigued following dry needling treatment. Sometimes people have a feeling of lethargy after treatment depending on how intense the muscle release was; I call this the "Dry Needling Hangover", and using a hydration supplement (i.e. lmnt, LiquidIV, Nuun) can help. There's also a chance of bruising depending on the severity of the muscle tension at the start of treatment. Topical arnica can help reduce bruising if it occurs.

Do I need to have the electrical stimulation?

Not at all! While it is beneficial for enhancing the treatment's pain-relieving effect, it is not required.

How often do I need dry needling?

There are a bunch of factors that go into how many rounds of dry needling you may need to provide full relief from your pain. Usually, you'll see results and improvements after your first session, and more sessions will provide additional relief.

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Curious about the process of Dry Needling? Check out these instagram videos for examples of some of my favorite techniques:

Headaches

Back Pain

Neck Pain