Dry Needling
Trigger Point Dry Needling (Dry Needling) is an effective treatment for patients suffering from any form of muscle pain or tightness in the body. It involves inserting a solid filiform needle into a muscle with a myofascial “trigger point.” These trigger points are determined by taut bands in the muscle that reproduce the patient’s symptoms or areas that seem to be more tender than other parts of the body. Trigger points commonly form following prolonged poor posture, injuries, degenerative processes, stress and overuse.
The goal of Dry Needling is to achieve a local twitch response (LTR) when the needle is inserted into the trigger point. The LTR is an involuntary spinal cord reflex , which when elicited can “reset” the muscle fibers in the taut band causing the release of muscle tension and pain.
Patients with the following symptoms may benefit from this treatment:
- Muscle strains and pains
- Tendonitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Bursitis
- Decreased mobility
- Headaches
- Chronic pain
Side Effects/Risks:
- Bruising
- Muscle soreness—very similar to soreness from working out. Usually lasts 24 – 48 hours.
- Infection—minimized by adhering to preparation guidelines. Needle has solid end so introduction of infection is even less than having blood drawn.
