Dry needling is a non-invasive treatment that helps patients reduce muscle pain and enhance their range of motion. It utilizes fine needles to penetrate the skin to target myofascial trigger points and knotted muscles that cause discomfort and dysfunction.
You may feel a mild sting as the needle is inserted during treatment, but this should last no more than a second. Additionally, you may feel your trigger point respond with a brief muscle twitch – this is normal and expected.
Getting Needle Stimulation
Dry needling sessions involve applying an electrical current to a needle, which causes muscle twitches. This twitch is an indication that your therapy is working. Dry needling allows your therapist to target trigger points in muscles that cause pain.
Trigger points occur when muscles are overextended or injured. They release biochemicals that increase pain perception, and the muscle contracts in an effort to protect itself.
Dry needling allows your therapist to target a particular muscle stuck in this cycle and use electrical stimulation to help it fire properly. It has been found to reduce pain in patients with musculoskeletal conditions such as neck and lower back discomfort. Unfortunately, there is insufficient quality evidence to back this up for long-term relief.
Needle Stimulation Doesn’t Cause Pain
Dry needling is a technique used to release trigger points or knotted muscles. Commonly found in the shoulder and upper back, these tight bands of tissue can cause pain, limit the range of motion, and negatively affect performance.
Physical therapists use very fine sterile needles to stimulate trigger points, creating a twitch response. This release of tension helps improve circulation and loosen tight muscle knots. Most patients find dry needling less painful than needle injections, though they may experience a twitch or mild muscle soreness after treatment. Usually, this soreness dissipates within 12-24 hours and is not serious.
Dry needling is an effective treatment for myofascial trigger points, a source of chronic pain that affects many people. Additionally, it relieves symptoms associated with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. To learn more about this treatment, visit Direct Orthopedic’s Physical Therapy page.
Needle Stimulation Can Cause Pain
Physical therapists, chiropractors, and sports medicine physicians use dry needling to reduce patient pain. When done correctly and under sterile conditions, this technique can be safe and effective for the patient.
Dry needling is when an experienced therapist inserts a needle into your muscle, superficially or deeply. They usually use a guide tube to ensure accuracy when tapping the needle into place.
Once the needle is inserted into your muscle, you may experience a brief twitch and cramp-like sensation. This is normal and usually goes away quickly.
Sometimes, your therapist may incorporate electrical stimulation into a dry needling session. While this can be beneficial, it’s not advised if you are allergic to electrodes or have a tumor present.
Dry needling can also be combined with physical therapy to increase the range of motion and hasten recovery. Furthermore, it helps you prevent re-injury and develop better movement habits. For those who require therapy at home, mobile physical therapy is an excellent option.
Needle Stimulation Can Make Pain Worse
When your therapist uses dry needling to treat trigger points, they connect a device to the needle that generates an electrical current. This application of energy can cause muscle contraction in small segments known as “twitches.”
Treatment of trigger points using this technique has been demonstrated to reduce pain, enhance blood flow to the area, and enhance joint range of motion. Furthermore, it helps alter the chemical environment around active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) and normalize their function.
Many physical therapists utilize this procedure, which has been found to be safe and effective. The therapist must have knowledge of skeletal and neuroanatomy and kinaesthetic awareness.
Recent systematic review findings demonstrated that dry needling performed by a physical therapist is effective for short-term relief of musculoskeletal pain conditions. This is likely because dry needling reduces pain, increases blood flow to the area, and enhances the range of motion of joints.
If you’re interested in trying dry needling or other physical therapy treatments, don’t hesitate to contact Direct Orthopedic Therapy to schedule an appointment with our team of specialists.
For more information about our services, visit our home page.
