Dry Needling

Dry needling is a safe, effective, and efficient treatment used to relax myofascial trigger points and to restore normal muscle tones, muscle length, coordination, function, and strength. Also known as intramuscular stimulation (IMS) or trigger point dry needling (TDN), dry needling involves the insertion and repetitive manipulation of a “dry,” solid filament needle into a trigger point to produce an involuntary spinal cord reflex (known as a local twitch response, or LTR). The result is lasting muscle relaxation due to the release of shortened bands of muscle fibers for overactive (tight) muscles or the activation of underactive (weak) muscles. Dry needling can bring instant relief of symptoms, allowing the therapist to then immediately train the muscles to work with their newly gained, pain-free range of motion.

Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture:

Dry needling and acupuncture are similar in that they both use a dry, solid filament needle inserted and manipulated under the skin to release endorphins and serum cortisol for pain relief. Dry needling is based on western neuroanatomy and modern scientific study of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Acupuncture, on the other hand, is based on traditional Chinese medicine and aims to create balance in the body by influencing the flow of Qi (energy) through pathways called meridians to achieve pain relief and alleviate inflammation.

Conditions Treated by Dry Needling:

Dry needling has successfully been used to treat a variety of conditions including:

Head and Neck Pain (including whiplash and headaches/migraines, degenerative joint disease, degenerative disk disease, and osteoarthritis)
Otological (Ear) and Ophthalmological (Eye) Pain (including tinnitus and eye strain)
Dental (Teeth) and Orthodontic (Jaw and Occlusal) Pain (including cavities, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, tooth impaction, and root problems)
Shoulder Pain (including rotator cuff muscle tears, bursitis, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), tendonitis, and impingement syndrome)
Elbow Pain (including lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow))
Hand and Wrist Pain (including gamekeeper's thumb, DeQuervain's syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative joint disease, and osteoarthritis)
Back and Hip Pain (including lumbar degenerative disc disease, arthritic changes, and herniated discs)
Knee Pain (including degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis)
Shin/Ankle/Foot Pain (including shin splints, gout, metatarsalgia, and Morton's neuroma)
Heel Pain (including plantar fasciitis)
Acute and Chronic Tendonitis
Athletic and Sports-Related Overuse Injuries
Post-Surgical Pain
Post-Traumatic Injuries/Motor Vehicle Accidents/Work-Related Injuries
Other Chronic Pain Conditions (including myofascial pain and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS))