The aim of Dry Needling is to achieve a natural ‘twitch’ response to release muscle tension and pain.
Small needles are inserted into trigger points (tight and tender spots within the muscle) to increase blood flow to the area and regulate nerve communication to block pain signals coming from the brain. This process promotes natural healing.
Dry Needling is Effective for:
- Lower Back Pain
- Chronic Pain
- Neck Pain
- Tension Headaches
- Neck and Shoulder Tension
- Overuse Injuries such as Tennis Elbow
- Plantar Fasciitis
Dry Needling Treats musculoskeletal conditions and conditions that have associated tight muscles or trigger points.
Dry Needle Therapy vs Acupuncture
There are many similarities between acupuncture and Dry Needling as well as some key differences.
Needles
The needles, like those used in acupuncture, are very small, single use and are always sterile. Each needle is disposed of in bio-hazard containers.
Treatment Sites
Many of the insertion or treatment sites are similar to those used in acupuncture. However, acupuncture is based on Chinese medicine and also uses other treatment sites associated with the meridians or energy channels believed to be in the body. Dry needling treatment sites are based on medical locations of trigger points from within the muscles.
Education
While acupuncture requires training in traditional Chinese medicine, a practitioner of Dry Needling must have extensive education and knowledge of the nervous system, muscular system and orthopedics.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Like with many other soft tissue treatments, you may experience some achiness post treatment and this is normal. The needles used are very small and most of the time, a patient may not even feel them being inserted.
The number and size of needles used depends on the muscle(s) and overall treatment area. Usually it ranges from 2-10.
Our clinic takes every precaution adhering to strict guidelines and standards. All needles used are single- use, sterile and disposed of after each treatment in a bio-hazard container. The affected area is properly cleaned with alcohol prior to any treatment and the doctor wears protective gloves.
Each insurance policy is different and while some plans do cover this treatment, we offer an affordable ‘payment of time of service’ discount, so any patient may experience the benefits of Dry Needling.
A Dry Needling session can vary in time but will typically last 20-30 minutes. Dry Needling gets results fast. Most conditions will require 3-6 treatments.