Dry needling, or intramuscular therapy, is a technique, performed by a certified Dry Needling Specialist, designed to help treat musculoskeletal or myofascial pain. It involves inserting a small needle into specific areas called ‘trigger points.’ These ‘trigger points’ are tender, irritable spots in fascia and muscles, and palpable nodules in taut bands of tissue. The results are often immediate and noticeable improvements in both pain, range of motion, and your ability to move.

Yes. similar needle, but different technique. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) inserts needles along “meridians.” While Dry Needling a needle is inserted directly into the trigger points or peripheral nerve point. Those trigger points or nerve points are not associated with organ systems or ‘chi.’

Each session of dry needling will begin with finding and mapping active trigger points in the body. This may include previous points found in earlier sessions and new points that show up during the current session. We ask that you wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing so we can access all the areas we need to during our session of intramuscular therapy.

Each needle is pre-packaged in a sterilized tube that is used only once for each area. Once the trigger point is found the needle is inserted into the muscles where the trigger point is. A local twitch or spasm response is not uncommon. This is very brief followed by relief of muscle tension and pain. There may be some discomfort with the insertion of the needle, but most needle insertions are painless for most people.

Your feedback will be critical to help guide our treatment to ensure the most effective treatment. At the end of treatment I will re-evaluate the previous motions that were painful prior to treatment. I often find a very noticeable change in range of motion and pain levels.

The goal is not to make you sore, but when breaking down trigger points, adhesions and restrictions in muscles, joints, and myofascia it is not uncommon to have some soreness following treatment, and this is nothing to worry about if it does happen. This usually subsides within 24-48 hours. If it persists beyond 48 hours, please let us know so we can adjust your future therapy treatments to match your body’s receptivity to dry needling. 

There are certain cases where dry needling is not advised: If you are in the first trimester of your pregnancy, have a phobia of needles, have unmanaged blood clotting disorders, have some vascular diseases, or a compromised immune system. If you have any other concerns about dry needling, please contact us and we can discuss it in further detail.